FORT SMITH – Fresh off a hard-fought win against nationally-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday evening in the UAFS Holiday Classic finale, the nationally-ranked UAFS men’s basketball team play NCAA Division I Colorado State on Tuesday night in an exhibition game at Moby Arena in Fort Collins, Colo.
Tipoff will be 8 p.m. (central time). Live statistics and live stream will be available.
It will be the final exhibition game of the season for the Lions (12-0), who are ranked No. 5 in the latest D2SIDA Top 25 and No. 11 in the latest NABC Division II Top 25, and their final game before the Christmas holiday.
UAFS, which is off to the best start of its NCAA Division II era, beat Ouachita Baptist and No. 22/23 Texas A&M-Commerce in its Holiday Classic this past weekend at the Stubblefield Center.
The Lions average 86 points per game with three players averaging double-figures in scoring – senior guard Darrion Strong-Moore (15.5), senior guard Ladarius Coleman (12.8) and senior guard DaVaunta Thomas (12.7). Strong-Moore, Thomas and junior guard Chris Crawford lead the Lions in assists per game (2.8).
UAFS out-rebounds its opponents by almost eight rebounds per game (41.7-33.8). Coleman leads the team in rebounds per game (8.3) and is one of five players averaging four or more rebounds per game.
The Lions allow 71 points per game and force more than 16 turnovers per game. Coleman leads the team in steals per game (1.4), and Thomas and senior forward Brett Jolly lead the team in blocked shots per game (0.6).
Colorado State (5-6) snapped a two-game losing streak on Sunday with a 66-58 home win against Texas State. UAFS will be the second Arkansas opponent Colorado State has played this season. The Rams lost to Arkansas 92-66 on Dec. 5 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
The Rams average 69 points per game with two players averaging double-figures in scoring – junior guard Prentiss Nixon (18.2) and senior forward Che Bob (10.3). Junior guard J.D. Paige leads the team in assists per game (2.3).
Colorado State out-rebounds its opponents by more than four rebounds per game (38.5-34.1). Sophomore forward Nico Carvacho leads the team in rebounds per game (8.2) and is one of three Rams averaging four or more rebounds per game.
The Rams allow 76 points per game and force more than 12 turnovers per game. Nixon leads the team in steals per game (1.4), and Bob leads the team in blocked shots per game (1.7).