Men's Basketball 11/12/2010 2:17:00 PM MSU Sports Information

Game Day: MSU to tangle with MIAA favorite Fort Hays State in opener

Setting the Stage

No. 20 Midwestern State tips off the regular season with two games at the South Central Regional Challenge Friday and Saturday night at Bruin Field House in Bartlesville, Okla.

The Mustangs take on 2009-10 NCAA II postseason qualifier Fort Hays State Friday night before taking on a second-straight Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association foe in Emporia State on Saturday night. Both contests tip off at 6 p.m.

Where to Find the Game

100.9 BOB FM - The broadcast features the play-by-play voice of two-time Lone Star Conference Broadcaster of the Year Bill Powers.
On the Web - BOB-FM's audio broadcast is simulcast on BOBradio.fm. Link

Live Stats -

Live stats for the South Central Regional Challenge are provided by the Newman (Kan.) Sports Information office. Link

About the Mustangs

Midwestern State faced its toughest competition of the season while suffering two exhibition losses to nationally ranked Baylor and Purdue over the past two weeks.

A 9-minute dry spell was the difference between the Mustangs and the Big 10 power Boilermakers the last time out as junior transfer Michael Loyd led the way with 17 points followed by senior Sporting News Preseason All-America Chris Hagan, who added 13.

The Mustangs held a lead with just under 9 minutes to play against the 2009-10 Elite Eight advancing Bears of Baylor University before falling 69-59. Junior transfer bigs David Terrell and Thomas Colbert led the way with 10 points each.

The Mustangs committed 65 fouls in exhibition play while ball security has been issue in the opening half. All but six of MSU's 40 turnovers have come before intermission.

About the Tigers

Fort Hays State comes into the 2010-11 campaign as the coaches' favorite to claim the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) title after finishing second last season.

The Tigers return seven letter winners off of last season's NCAA II postseason qualifier posting its second-straight 20-win campaign with a 23-7 mark.

Fort Hays State is led by Sports News Preseason All-American Dominique Jones, who averaged 13.0 points and 3.9 assists last season after transferring from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Four-year letter winner Corbin Kuntzsch, a 6-4 guard, averaged 12.5 points last season, while senior 6-8 forward Dijon Smith notched 8.7 points and 4.8 rebounds a game last season.

Midwestern State and Fort Hays State have faced one other time as the Tigers claimed a 119-98 victory in 1997-98 in Hays, Kan.

About the Hornets

Emporia State returns six letter winners off of last season's 14-15 squad led by 6-7 junior forward Adam Holthaus, who scored 12.5 points and pulled down 4.2 rebounds a contest primarily in a reserve role in 2009-10.

He is joined by junior guard Matt Boswell (9.3 points, 5.2 rebounds) and super sophomore Taylor Euler (6.2 points) as the Hornets primary returners.

The Hornets' top performer in exhibition play was 6-5 junior transfer guard Christian Jackson. The Bowie State (Md.) transfer notched 20 points against the Livin' the Dream travel squad and 18 more against Kansas.

Emporia State is ticketed to finish eighth in the MIAA according to each of the coaches' and media preseason polls.

Tight games are always in store when the Hornets meet MSU. Emporia State claimed an 85-83 overtime win in the first meeting between the schools in Jan. 4, 1985 before taking a victory by the same score - this time in regulation - on Nov. 24, 2007 at White Auditorium. The teams then battled to a four-overtime classic with the Mustangs surviving 127-124 on Dec. 20, 2007 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum in Wichita Falls. The Hornets lead the series, 2-1.

Quick Hits

Midwestern State is 6-0 at the Bruin Field House - the home of the Lone Star Conference Championship over the past three seasons - claiming league titles in each of the last two seasons.
Midwestern State's season opening win over Trinity (Texas) last season was its first opening win since beating Oklahoma Panhandle State to start the 2006-07 campaign. The Mustangs fell to St. Edward's (2007-08) and Dallas Baptist (2008-09) in the previous two seasons.

MSU is 44-20 all time in season openers.

For the second straight season, the Mustangs will play on a neutral floor to start the season.

-- MSUMustangs.com --

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Players Mentioned

#1 Chris Hagan: G; 5' 9"; Senior

#45 Thomas Colbert: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#10 Michael Loyd: G; 6' 1"; Junior

#24 David Terrell: F; 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

#1 Chris Hagan
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G

#45 Thomas Colbert
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#10 Michael Loyd
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

#24 David Terrell
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior
: F