UAFS Lions To Host Patriots To Open Second Round

Courtesy University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Athletics Department

Fresh off a stunning win against then No. 21-ranked Newman University, the UAFS Lions will open the second half of Heartland Conference basketball play at 7 p.m. on Thursday against the Dallas Baptist Patriots at the Stubblefield Center.

Live statistics and webcast will be available.

UAFS (11-6, 7-0) will open the second round of league play as the conference leader for the first time since becoming a member of Heartland Conference in 2009. The Lions own a two-game lead over second place Newman (14-3, 5-2) and a three-game lead over third place St. Mary’s (12-5, 4-3) and Texas A&M International (10-7, 4-3).

It will be the first of four remaining regular-season home games for the Lions. It will be the eighth meeting in the all-time series between the two teams. UAFS, which leads the series 4-3, won the first encounter of the season against Dallas Baptist 75-72 on Jan. 3 at The Burg Center.

UAFS is averaging 79 points per game with four players averaging double-figures in scoring – junior guard Jake Toupal (13.6), senior forward Djordje Stojanovic (13.3), junior guard Corey Copeland (11.8) and senior guard Dijon Farr (10.1).

The Lions are out-rebounding their opponents by 5 rebounds per game (38.7-33.7). Stojanovic leads the team 5.4 rebounds per game and is one five players averaging 4 or more rebounds per game.

UAFS is allowing 73 points per game and forcing more than 16 turnovers per game. Toupal leads the team with 24 steals, while junior forward Bo Franklin leads the team with 10 blocked shots.

Dallas Baptist (6-11, 3-4) is tied for fifth place in the conference with the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (7-9, 3-4). The Patriots are coming off a 71-61 home loss to Texas A&M International on Saturday.

The Patriots are averaging 73 points per game with two players averaging double-figures in scoring – senior forward Nick Fox (21.6) and freshman guard Jonathan Perry (10.8). Dallas Baptist is out-rebounding its opponents by almost 2 rebounds per game (31.3-29.9). Fox leads the team with 8.1 rebounds per game.

Dallas Baptist is allowing 77 points per game and forcing more than 12 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Charles Allen and freshman guard Jason Gentry lead the team with 13 steals, while junior forward Remy Ndiaye leads the team with 7 blocked shots.