FORT SMITH, Ark. – It’s crowded at the top of the Heartland Conference men’s basketball standings, but the nationally-ranked UAFS Lions are in full control of their own destiny as they look to repeat as regular-season champions.
UAFS (21-4, 9-4), which is ranked No. 19 in the latest NABC Division II Top 25 and No. 20 in the latest D2SIDA Top 25, is tied for first place with Newman (13-11, 9-4) and Dallas Baptist (19-5, 8-4).
The Lions have only three regular-season games remaining, including two games this week as part of their final regular-season road trip.
UAFS will play the surging Texas A&M International Dustdevils at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Kinesiology and Convocation Building in Laredo, Texas. Live statistics and live stream will be available.
The Lions will look to complete the regular-season sweep of the Dustdevils, who lost 95-53 to UAFS on Jan.18 at the Stubblefield Center. Texas A&M International (10-14, 3-9), however, has won three of its past four games and is currently tied with St. Mary’s for the final spot in next month’s conference tournament.
UAFS has won three games in a row and is coming off a 79-63 win against St. Edward’s on Saturday at the Stubblefield Center.
The Lions average 83 points per game with three players averaging double-figures in scoring – senior guard Darrion Strong-Moore (15.3), senior guard DaVaunta Thomas (14) and senior guard Ladarius Coleman (12). Junior guard Chris Crawford leads the team in assists per game (3.2).
UAFS out-rebounds its opponents by almost eight rebounds per game. Coleman leads the team in rebounds per game (8.2) and is one of four players averaging four or more rebounds per game.
The Lions allow 70 points per game and force 16 turnovers per game. Crawford leads the team in steals per game (1.3), and Thomas leads the team in blocked shots per game (0.6).
Texas A&M International began the conference season with eight consecutive losses before going on a three-game winning streak. The Dustdevils had their winning streak snapped on Saturday with 49-46 loss against Newman at Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita, Kan.
The Dustdevils average 64 points per game with four players averaging double-figures in scoring – senior guard Jeremy Wright (11.6), junior guard Xabier Gomez (11.3), senior forward Dan Milota (11.2) and senior forward Kamari Robinson (11). Wright leads the team in assists per game (5.1).
Texas A&M International out-rebounds its opponents by almost one rebound per game (30.5-30.3). Robinson leads the team in rebounds per game (5.6). The Dustdevils allow 65 points per game and force 15 turnovers per game. Wright leads the team in steals per game (2.3), and Robinson leads the team in blocked shots per game (0.5).