Fort Hays State (8-9, 8-9 MIAA) at
Northeastern State (2-13, 2-13 MIAA)
Saturday, February 13, 2021 - 3:30 pm
Tahlequah, Okla. - NSU Event Center
Radio: KJLS (103.3-FM)
LISTEN LIVE
Fort Hays State Men's Basketball attempts to finish with a winning record on its three-game swing this week through Oklahoma when it faces Northeastern State in Tahlequah on Saturday (Feb. 13). The Tigers enter the contest at 8-9 overall, tied for ninth in the MIAA standings, while the RiverHawks hold a record of 2-13.
Fort Hays State is looking for a regular season sweep of Northeastern State. The Tigers won the first meeting between the teams in Hays back on December 18 by a score of 81-76. Jared Vitztum led the Tigers in scoring that game with 20 points, while Quinten Rock had 19, Alvin Thompson had 15, and Kaleb Hammeke had 10.
The home team has won the last six games in this series dating back to the 2017-18 season. The teams have split the regular season series in the previous two seasons. The RiverHawks have won the last two meetings with the Tigers on their home floor, claiming a 76-70 decision in 2020 and a 72-62 decision in 2019.
The Tigers had a four-game win streak snapped at Rogers State on Thursday night. The Hillcats escaped on their home floor by converting a 3-point play with four seconds remaining that broke a tie. FHSU and Rogers State are now tied in the MIAA standings in 9th place at 8-9, but they are just a half game back of Missouri Western and Emporia State both at 8-8, and just a game back of Central Oklahoma (8-7) and Lincoln (9-8) for fifth place in the standings. The top eight teams in the conference will qualify for the MIAA Tournament.
The RiverHawks enter Saturday on a six-game losing streak. NSU has not won since January 9, when it defeated Newman by 10 points in Tahlequah. The RiverHawks lost at home in overtime to Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday night.
Jared Vitztum led the Tigers with 20 points and 11 rebounds at Rogers State on Thursday night. It was his ninth double-double of the season, which leads NCAA Division II. He is now just five rebounds shy of 600 for his career, looking to become the eighth FHSU men's player in history with at least 1,000 points and 600 rebounds. Vitztum leads the MIAA at 9.8 rebounds per game, while he's fifth in scoring at 18.1 points per game.
Bjarni Jonsson had a solid night for the Tigers at Rogers State as he posted a new career high 14 points and tied his career high in rebounds with seven. Both of Jonsson's double figure scoring games this season were against Rogers State.
Nyjee Wright continues to contribute more and more in his return from a preseason injury. Wright missed the first 13 games of the season, but has played in the last four. He had a new season-high 12 points on Thursday night at Rogers State, all on four 3-point field goals he made in the contest.
Quinten Rock and Kaleb Hammeke lead the Tigers in assists this season, both averaging 4.1 per game with 69 each. Both average double figures in scoring for the Tigers, Rock at 12.6 points per game and Hammeke at 11.4 per game.
Trey Sampson leads Northeastern State in scoring and rebounding. He averages 14.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Troy Locke (13.5 ppg) and Brad Davis (11.8 ppg) also average double figures in scoring for NSU. Locke had a team-high 21 points for NSU in the first meeting with FHSU this season, while Sampson had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds.
FHSU Athletics