FORT SMITH, Ark. - The Newman men's basketball team will open Heartland Conference play Saturday, traveling to Fort Smith, Ark., to take on NCAA Div. II provisional member Arkansas-Fort Smith. Tip-time inside the Stubblefield Center is slated for 4:30 p.m., or approximately 20 minutes following the conclusion of the Newman-UAFS women's basketball game.
About the Jets...
Newman is 7-5 after the first 12 games of the season, and have taken on some of the toughest compeition the South Central region has to offer, including the likes of Lone Star Conference foes Southwestern Oklahoma State (W, 91-78), West Texas A&M (L, 83-68), Angelo State (W, 77-69), No. 11 Tarleton State (L, 83-54), and No. 21 Midwestern State (L, 89-69) and MIAA rivals Pittsburg State (L, 95-68) and Fort Hays State (L, 84-71). The Jets have won five of their last six games after an 89-69 loss to No. 21 Midwestern State Monday night in Wichita Falls, Texas.
The Jets are led by
Keaton Schultz, a senior guard from Neodesha, Kan., who is averaging 14.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
Will Burdette, a senior transfer forward from the Northeastern Mississippi Junior College, scores 12.3 points and grabs a team-high 5.1 rebounds per game, while
Eric Saunders, who has stepped into the point guard position after the injury to
Bobby Wesley in the opening game of the season, can be counted on for 8.8 points and 4.8 assists per game.
As a team, the Jets average 77.4 points per game, and have shot a .412 collective field goal percentage
Scouting Arkansas-Fort Smith...
The Lioins bring a 9-6 record into Saturday's contest after an 82-60 win over Oklahoma Panhandle State Thursday in Fort Smith. Arkansas-Fort Smith has lost two of its last three games, including a 79-60 decision to Southwestern Oklahoma State on Jan. 3 in Fort Smith.
Josh Simmons has emerged as Arkansas-Fort Smith's leading scorer this season. The 6-5 senior guard is averaging 13.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game this season, while Kelson Stewart, a 6-4 junior guard is next in line with 10.5 points per game
Last Time These Two Met...
Will Burdette hit all nine of his free throws en route to a team-high 17 points, but a 31-point performance from UAFS's LaDustin Williams lifted the Lions to an 81-70 win over the Jets on Feb. 18 inside the Stubblefield Center in Fort Smith. The Lions shot .492 (29-59) from the field, while limiting Newman to just .250 (6-24) from long range.
The Series....
This will be just the third meeting between the Jets and the Lions. Each team has one win to their credit. Newman defeated UAFS in a 97-84 shootout on Jan. 16, 2010 in Wichita, while UAFS took an 81-70 decision over the Jets on Feb. 18 in Fort Smith.
