By: MIAA Communications
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (November 23, 2020) - The MIAA announced its fourth men’s basketball athlete of the week for the 2020-2021 season. Fort Hays State’s Jared Vitztum was named with this week’s award, his first of the season.
Vitztum recorded his third double-double of the season in an overtime win for Fort Hays State at Newman on December 12. He tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds, while also producing a team-high three blocked shots. Vitztum scored seven of FHSU’s 13 points in overtime, including a key layup to push a Tiger lead to three points with 30 seconds remaining and then a pair of free throws with 19 seconds remaining to extend the lead. He also had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, in the Tiger’s 81-68 exhibition win over Kansas State on December 8 becoming the first non-Division I team to defeat a major conference team on the road since 2000.
Notable Performances In The Association
Quinton Drayton - Lincoln
Drayton paced the Blue Tigers with 16 points as he shot 53.8 percent from the field and 40 percent from the three-point line in a win against Pittsburg State on December 10.
Joel Boyce - Newman
Boyce scored a career-high 20 points including a game-winning three-point play in a win against Nebraska Kearney on December 10 as he shot 87.5 percent from the field and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line. On December 12, he scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds against Fort Hays State.
Will Eames - Missouri Western
Eames posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds in a Griffon win at Northeastern State on December 8.
Jalen Lewis - Washburn
Lewis tied his career-high as he netted 25 points behind five three-pointers and a 57.1 shooting percentage in a road win at Rogers State on December 12.
Nominations For Athletes of the Week
Camryn Givens - Central Oklahoma, Jared Vitztum - Fort Hays State, Quinton Drayton, Lincoln, Will Eames - Missouri Western, Austin Luger - Nebraska Kearney, Joel Boyce - Newman, Trey Sampson - Northeastern State, Jalen Lewis - Washburn