GAME COVERAGE LINKS
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – The home portion of the 2022-23 season for the Henderson State men's basketball program begins Saturday, Nov. 19 when the Reddies host Arkansas-Fort Smith for an in-state showdown. Tip-off from the Duke Wells Center is set for 4 p.m.
REDDIES REPORT
Henderson opened play in Kansas City with the Central Regional Challenge, featuring teams from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, the New South Intercollegiate Conference and the Great American Conference. The Reddies returned to the Natural State after splitting its contests with Washburn and Minnesota State-Mankato.
Senior guard
Franck Kamgain delivered a career-high 20 points to lead HSU to a season-opening victory over a Washburn team who was receiving votes in this year's Top-25 preseason poll after making the NCAA Tournament last season, 79-73. Cold shooting from deep plagued the Reddies against Mankato on day two of the Challenge, falling to the Mavericks, 84-64.
Through two games, Kamgain is pacing HSU with 14.5 points per game, followed by
Tomislav Miholjcic with 13.5 ppg and newcomer
Clarence King with 10.0 ppg. Kamgain leads the GAC in three-point field-goal percentage after shooting a blistering 58.3% from long range thanks to hitting six of seven triples against the Ichabods in the opener.
The Reddies' average height of their top seven guys is 6' 4.5", including three players who are 6'7" or taller. That length has Henderson tied for fourth in the conference with 36.0 rebounds per game and plus four in the turnover margin. In the win over Washburn, HSU out-rebounded the Ichabods, 45-31, while also winning the turnover battle in each of the first two games.
Henderson and Arkansas-Fort Smith will meet for just the fifth time this weekend as the Lions lead the overall series, 3-1. Last year in Fort Smith, two missed free-throws late in regulation for the home team forced overtime where UAFS used a three-point buzzer-beater to claim victory, 81-80. Saturday will be the first meeting between the two schools in Arkadelphia as the Reddies look for their eighth consecutive non-conference home opening victory.
SCOUTING ARKANSAS-FORT SMITH
The Lions picked up their first win of the 2022-23 season in their last outing, defeating the University of the Ozarks, 68-51. Leading scorer Payton Brown led the way with 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting while connecting on his one free throw. Jaxon Ingram was the only other Lion in double-figures as he contributed 11 points in the effort.
Through three contests, Arkansas-Fort Smith is averaging 67.7 points per game while allowing 71.7 points per game. Opponents are shooting at a 46.5% clip from the field compared to UAFS' 39.1%. Junior forward Connor Slater is second on the team with 11.3 points per game while shooting 60% (12-20) from the field.
The returning leading scorer from last year's meeting with the Reddies is senior forward David Ekezie, who scored 11 in the overtime thriller. Arkansas-Fort Smith lost 53 of the Lions' 81 points from last season's contest to graduation as UAFS currently rosters five guys from last year's inter-state victory.
