FORT SMITH, Ark. — The UAFS Lions tied a single-game scoring record beating the Ecclesia Royals 124-70 Saturday night, but the game was also the 6th Annual Toy Toss.
As is tradition during the Toy Toss, fans pummeled the court with stuffed toys in celebration of the Lions' first points of the game. UAFS was assessed a delay of game technical foul, but as he has done in previous Toy Toss games against the Lions, Royals coach T.K. Smith declined the free throws that came with the technical foul to show his support of the worthwhile cause.
This year 3,490 stuffed toys were collected during the Toy Toss drive, raising the all-time total to more than 28,000 toys. All of the toys collected will be delivered to the local Salvation Army and distributed to children of needy families for Christmas in the River Valley.
The annual Toy Toss has gained national attention in recent years. Lions coach Josh Newman says he hopes the toss continues to grow and spread to other schools.