Return of Toy Toss

in 2023, a beloved tradition made its way back to the Stubblefield Center as plush lions, tigers, and bears covered the floor of the Gayle Kaundart Arena. The fan-favorite event returned with renewed vigor and, with it, a new date on the 2024 calendar. This year’s Toy Toss game, at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, is the Lion’s first home game of the season, against University of the Ozarks at the Stubblefield Center.

As a kid, Dyllan Newell, UAFS coordinator for student activities and civic engagement, attended several Toy Toss basketball games at the Stubblefield Center. Since Newell, '22, joined the university as a staff member, bringing back Toy Toss has been a labor of love.

Men’s basketball coach Zane Gibson also wanted to see the tradition return. 

“It was a neat moment to see the Toy Toss game return to the Stubb last year,” Gibson said. “Bringing back a game with such a great tradition and connection with our program and the community after not having the game for a few years was an awesome feeling.”

At Toy Toss, patrons bring a new or gently used stuffed animal for free admission to the game. The first time the Lions score, fans throw their stuffed animal onto the court to be collected and donated to the Salvation Army of Fort Smith and the Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club.

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