WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Three-time defending South Central Region champion Midwestern State is picked to finish second for the second-straight season in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll voted by a panel of coaches, media relations directors and selected media.

The Mustangs return five letter winners off of last season's 29-4 squad which advanced to the NCAA II Elite Eight for the third straight season before succumbing to eventual national champion Western Washington in the national quarterfinal round.

MSU claimed its fourth Lone Star Conference title in the last six seasons finishing deadlocked with Tarleton State by carrying a 15-3 regular season league mark before rolling to a 57-51 win over the Texans in the LSC Postseason Tournament title game.

Tarleton, however, is the narrow favorite of the voters in 2012-13 edging the Mustangs by a 269-262 margin as both teams topped the ballots of 12 voters.

West Texas A&M claimed four first-place votes as the Buffs were picked third with 246 points followed by Incarnate Word (166), Cameron (139), Texas A&M-Kingsville (130), Abilene Christian (112), Angelo State (95, one first-place vote), Texas A&M-Commerce (91) and Eastern New Mexico (85).
     

Place	Team (1st-place votes)	Total
1	Tarleton State (12)	269
2	Midwestern State (12)	262
3	West Texas A&M (4)	246
4	Incarnate Word	166
5	Cameron	139
6	Texas A&M-Kingsville	130
7	Abilene Christian	112
8	Angelo State (1)	95
9	Texas A&M-Commerce	91
10	Eastern New Mexico	85

MUSTANGS ANNOUNCE 2012-13 SLATE

Two early season tournaments and a key non-conference matchup compliment the usually rugged Lone Star Conference slate for the Mustangs in 2012-13.

The Mustangs open the regular season at the Southwestern Oklahoma State Classic in Weatherford with games against Louisiana State-Shreveport and host Southwestern Oklahoma on Nov. 9-10.

MSU returns to the Colorado State-Pueblo Al Kaly Shrine Classic the next weekend to take on Oklahoma Christian on Nov. 16 and Colorado State-Pueblo on Nov. 17.

The Mustangs then hit the road for a non-conference battle with Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) on Nov. 24 in Arkadelphia before opening LSC play at Incarnate Word (Nov. 29) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (Dec. 1).

MSU takes on rival West Texas A&M in its home opener on Dec. 5 before taking on Arkansas Tech in a rematch of the South Central Region finals on Dec. 15 under the dome.

The Mustangs play seven of their first eight Lone Star Conference games on the road, but return to D.L. Ligon Coliseum for eight of their last 10 games of the season.

Midwestern State plays host to Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas) and Sul Ross State (Texas) in exhibition contests at Ligon Coliseum on Nov. 1 and 5. Fans will be admitted free of charge and both games tipoff at 7 p.m.

GET YOUR SEASON TICKETS

Midwestern State basketball season tickets go on sale to the public beginning Nov. 5.

The cost of season tickets ranges from $130-190 for reserved sections, while general admission season tickets are $80 a seat. Season tickets include each of the men's and women's games under the dome in 2012-13.

The Mustangs ranked second in NCAA Division II in attendance in 2011-12 averaging 3,094 fans per game.

Last year's season ticket holders have until Fri., Nov. 2 to renew and purchase previous seat locations.

Tickets are available online at MSUMustangs.com, at the MSU Athletics office in Ligon Coliseum or by calling (940) 397-4779.