About the Jets...
The Jets open up the second-half of their Heartland Conference slate on Thursday, when they travel to Fort Smith, Ark. to take on the Lions of Arkansas-Fort Smith. Newman defeated UAFS 84-68 on Jan. 7 inside the Fugate Gymnasium to open up Heartland Conference play. The Jets finished the first-half of conference play with a perfect 7-0 record, and haven't lost since a 71-48 defeat at Northeastern State on Jan. 4 in Tahlequah, Okla. Thursday's match-up features the second of five-consecutive road games for Newman. During its seven-game winning-streak, the Jets are averaging 80.1 points per game, and have defeated three of their opponents by double-figures during that stretch. The other four games have been decided by five or fewer points. Newman has been led by a stifling defense, averaging 9.5 steals per game.
Newman possesses a 6-4 record away from Fugate Gymnasium, while owning a 3-0 road mark in Heartland Conference action. The Lions are 7-3 inside the Stubblefield Center, and 2-1 at home in Heartland Conference play.
Scouting UAFS...
The Lions enter Thursday's game looking to snap a four-game losing streak dating back to a 75-53 loss at St. Mary's on Jan. 19. During the streak, UAFS has lost by an average of 15.3 points per game. Their most recent defeat was a 74-64 loss to Dallas Baptist on Jan. 28 inside the Stubblefield Center. Shawn Grant led the way for UAFS, scoring 15 points on 4-for-6 shooting from beyond the arc. Djordje Stojanovic (14.6 ppg) leads the Lions' offensive attack, shooting 78.7 percent from the charity-stripe on the season. Jake Toupal (13.6 ppg), has led UAFS in Heartland Conference play, averaging 15.4 points per game.
Head to Head...
|
|
Newman Jets |
UAFS Lions |
|
Points Per Game: |
72.4 |
78.7 |
|
Scoring Margin: |
+4.3 |
+5.0 |
|
Field-Goal Percentage: |
42.3% |
44.8% |
|
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: |
32.4% |
38.5% |
|
Free-Throw Percentage: |
65.5% |
67.8% |
|
Rebounds Per Game: |
36.1 |
39.9 |
|
Rebound Margin: |
-2.4 |
+8.5 |
|
Assists Per Game: |
12.7 |
13.4 |
|
Turnovers Per Game: |
14.6 |
16.1 |
|
Turnover Margin: |
-3.5 |
-2.0 |
|
Steals Per Game: |
9.5 |
7.0 |
|
Blocks Per Game: |
4.4 |
2.8 |
The Series...
All-Time Record: Newman (3-2)
First-Ever Meeting: Jan. 16, 2010- Newman 97, UAFS 84, (Wichita, Kan.)
This Season: Jan. 7, 2012- Newman 84, UAFS 68, (Wichita, Kan.)
In Fort Smith, Ark.: UAFS (2-0)
Last Time Out...
The Jets capped off a perfect first-half to the Heartland Conference schedule with a dominating 88-55 vicotry over Oklahoma Panhandle State on Jan. 26 in Goodwell, Okla. The victory marked the seventh-straight for Newman. The Jets didn't take long to gain control of Thursday's game at OPSU. Mason Felter connected on two lay-ups in the first minute of action to help post a 8-2 lead with 17:31 left in the half. The Aggies scrapped back early after a D'Ron Walker lay-up cut the Jet lead to 8-4 with 16:55 remaining, but a pair of Chuck Coley free-throws ignited a 12-3 run, expanding the lead to 20-7 at the 12:03 mark. Jared Messer stopped the bleeding with a tip-in at the 8:52 mark, but an Eric Saunders three-pointer sparked a 22-4 run burning 11 minutes off of the clock, giving Newman a 35-11 edge with 4:53 remaining in the period. Both teams traded baskets for the remaining of the half, as Newman took a 45-21 lead into the intermission.
The second half didn't get any better for the Aggies. Newman jumped out to a 52-25 lead after an Eric Saunders three-ball at the 17:23 mark. A Luke Barnwell lay-up gave Newman its largest lead of the game, 84-46, at the 4:29 mark, and the Jets never looked back, coasting to the 88-55 victory.
Player to Watch...
Kyle Grant- The junior from Freeport, Bahamas played a season-high 15 minutes, and made his first start in Newman's 88-55 victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State on Jan. 26 in Goodwell, Okla. The Southwest Baptist transfer has averaged five points over his past two games.
Thursday's Games in the Heartland Conference...
-Newman (15-4, 7-0) at Arkansas-Fort Smith (10-11, 3-4 ) -- 7:30 p.m. -- Fort Smith, Arkansas -- Live Stats
-St. Edward's (9-10, 1-6) at A&M International (16-4, 6-1) -- 7:30 p.m. -- Laredo, Texas -- Live Stats
-Oklahoma Panhandle State (3-15, 0-6) at Dallas Baptist (12-8, 3-3) -- 7:30 p.m. -- Dallas, Texas -- Live Stats
-Texas-Permian Basin (8-12, 2-5) at St. Mary's (12-6, 5-2) -- Austin, Texas -- Live Stats |
