By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State will play its final basketball game of the 2019 calendar year on Friday night (Dec. 20) when it hosts Avila University at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays. Tipoff is at 7 pm. The Tigers enter at 5-4 overall, while Avila comes in at 7-8 overall. This is the first meeting in history between the schools.
Unlike most NAIA opponents the Tigers play, Avila is claiming this as a regular season contest. In fact, the Eagles have played four regular season games against NCAA schools so far this year, which includes three against NCAA Division II and one against NCAA Division I. The Eagles claimed one of those three contests against Division II, an 80-78 win at Rockhurst earlier this week. Losses against NCAA schools include Division I Kansas City, and Division II members Pittsburg State and Lindenwood. Avila has one more NCAA school on its schedule following FHSU, scheduled to play Missouri Western on New Year’s Eve.
Avila has one of the most prolific scorers at the NAIA level in guard Shandon Boone. He averages 23.5 points per game. He has scored at least 20 points in 10 of 15 games this year with his season high at 39 points against Southwestern College back on November 20th. He has reached 30 points in a game five times this year. Eric Smith, Jr. averages a double-double for the Eagles at 14.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, while Brandon Phillips also averages double figures in scoring at 13.5 points per game.
Devin Davis leads the Fort Hays State scoring attack so far this year at 12.4 points per game. Jared Vitztum has pulled down 12 rebounds in each of the last two contests and produced the second double-double of his career earlier this week by adding 16 points against Bethel College. Vitztum ranks second on the team in scoring at 11.9 points per game. Jake Hutchings (11.4) and Nyjee Wright (11.3) also average double figures in scoring.
Fort Hays State is 2-0 at home so far this year with wins over NAIA opponents Sterling College and Bethel College. The Tigers held both to less than 60 points, while scoring over 85 in each game. For the season, FHSU averages 75.8 points per game.