Game Notes I Watch Live I Listen Live I Live Stats
A battle between undefeated teams takes place at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays Tuesday (Nov. 22) night as Fort Hays State hosts Newman University at 7 pm. Both teams enter the game at 3-0 on the season. This is the second and last NCAA Division II non-conference opponent for the Tigers, who wrap up non-conference play at the end of Thanksgiving week with a pair of NAIA schools.
Fort Hays State is 2-0 at home this year after wins over Bethany College and Central Christian College. Fort Hays State looks to finish 2-0 against Division II non-conference opponents after winning at Nebraska-Kearney in the season opener. This game has significance towards post-season play, as it counts towards in-region records which always help determine NCAA Tournament selections at the end of the season. The Tigers are already 1-0 in-region with the win at Kearney. All the rest of the in-region games this year for FHSU will be conference games.
Newman is looking strong out of the gates this year after three wins against NCAA Division II teams. Two of those wins were in a home-away series with Missouri S&T, and the other was a one-point win over future MIAA school Northeastern State. Newman's leading scorer Eric Saunders buried a jumper with five seconds remaining to lift the Jets to victory at home in that game.
Fort Hays State looks to continue its success against Newman after winning the last 17 meetings between the schools. Newman's last win in the series was in 1981-82 in Hays. Fort Hays State won last year's meeting by a score of 84-71 in Wichita.
Karron McKenzie leads FHSU in scoring through three games, averaging 13.3 points per game.
Tyrone Phillips is close behind with 13.0 per game.
Matt Simmons has been a beast on the boards so far this year, averaging 14.7 rebounds per game after reaching double figures in each contest. McKenzie and Simmons each had double-doubles in points and rebounds in the win this past Friday against Central Christian.
Eric Saunders is the top scorer for the Jets at 12.0 points per game, followed by Darrell Traylor and Connor Walker each at 10.0 per game.
