FORT SMITH (KFSM)- Last season things were very different for the the University of Arkansas Fort Smith men's basketball team. They were 16-13 overall and 12-8 in Heartland conference play and were the No. 8 seed going into the Heartland conference tournament. Fast forward to this season the Lions are Heartland Conference bound, after ending their regular season 21-7 overall and 14-6 in conference play they have earned the No.1 seed going into this tournament.
"The No.1 seed feels really good," said junior guard Seth Youngblood. "I texted Newman yesterday and I told him that I was really ready for it I was excited I was telling him that we have the best chance, this is our year to make our run."
First though the Lions have to go through St. Mary's. The team that knocked them out in the first round of last year's Heartland Conference Tournament. But, this time around the two teams could not be more different.
"It's kind of fitting they've knocked us out we've never knocked them out actually," said head coach Josh Newman about the rematch between the two teams. "This will be a really big game for both programs, and for us it might mean a little bit more than for them. They are kind of struggling this year, but again they've won the conference tournament many times and we have to go through them if we want to win one ourselves."
Newman sees the difference-maker going into the tournament is that the Lion's are lead by a strong Senior group. Though the team is focused on one game at a time, these seniors are already setting their goals to extend post-season play past the Heartland conference tournament.
Fifth-year senior captain Dusan Stojanovic is one of the senior on the Lions team that wants to continue post season play as far as they can.
"Even though we are number-one seeded this year and they are number-eight, and didn't have a very good season this year I say they are always a tough match-up," said Stojanovic on the rematch between them and St. Mary's. "It's going to be a very good game, this is my last year as a senior and I want to play as long as possible and I'm going to do anything in my power just to win that game."
Prior the tournament three UAFS Lions earned all-conference honors.
Junior Alex Cooper- 1st Team All-Conference
Junior Seth Youngblood- 2nd Team All-Conference
Senior Dusan Stojanovic- Honorable Mention All-Conference
The UAFS Lions will play St. Mary's at noon Friday March the 4th in the Union Multipurpose Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.