No. 16 Midwestern State takes on Central Oklahoma in a non-conference matchup Thursday night at Hamilton Fieldhouse in Edmond.
 
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
WHERE TO FIND THE GAME
 
100.9 BOB-FM - The broadcast features he play-by-play voice of two-time Lone Star Conference Broadcaster of the Year Bill Powers. The Taco Casa Pregame Show begins at 6:45 p.m.
 
On the Web - BOB-FM's audio broadcast simulcasts on BOBRadio.fm.  LINK
 
Live Stats - Live stats are available courtesy of the Central Oklahoma Athletic Communications office. LINK
 
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
 
Midwestern State can match the second best start in school history with a win over Central Oklahoma Thursday night at Hamilton Fieldhouse.
 
With a win, the Mustangs (11-0) would equal the 1973-74 NAIA national finalist squad with a 12-0 start. MSU would still need two more wins to match the 14-0 start by the 2009-10 squad which advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the first time in school history.
 
The balanced Mustangs are paced a trio of players averaging in double figures.
 
Junior forward Anthony Harris leads the way at 12.4 points per game and has led the team in scoring in each of its last three contests including a 33-point outburst against Abilene Christian. The Fort Worth native also leads the team with 5.1 rebounds a game.
 
Senior guard Michael Loyd pitches in 11.7 points per game. He connected on a pair of 3-pointers against Oklahoma Wesleyan to break out of 1-for-18 slump from the arc while notching 11 points against the Eagles. Loyd has tallied six assists in each of his last two outings to raise his season average to a team-best 3.5 a game.
 
Junior guard JaMichael Rivers adds 11.5 points a game while connecting at a 43.8-percent clip from the field.
 
The Mustangs rank 15th in NCAA Division in scoring defense (59.2 points per game), ninth in scoring margin (+18.1), ninth in rebounding margin (+9.0), 13th in steals per game (10.9) and 12 in field goal percentage defense (38.3).
 
ABOUT THE BRONCHOS
 
Central Oklahoma has lost three of its last four games, but remains a very dangerous club at 8-8.
 
UCO is playing in just its fourth home game this season and own wins over Cameron and No. 22 Arkansas Tech.
 
Senior guard Brent Friday leads a trio of Bronchos averaging in double figures at 13.3 points per game while working the block for an impressive 61.5 shooting percentage while snatching 5.9 boards per contest.
 
Lethal 3-point threat Tyler Phillips, a senior guard, connects for 2.5 treys per game at a 43.7 percent clip from beyond the arc. He leads the squad with 2.4 assists per game while pulling in 4.3 rebounds.
 
Senior guard Shane Carroll adds 11.8 points a game while shooting 38.1 percent from the arc (24-for-63).
 
Central Oklahoma scores 72.7 points a game while allowing 70.3.
 
UCO is competing as an independent this season before entering the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) for the 2012-13 season. The Bronchos were members of the Lone Star Conference from 1987-2011.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
 
Midwestern State and Central Oklahoma meet for the 51st time on the hardwood Thursday night at Hamilton Fieldhouse.
 
The Mustangs own a 27-23 edge in the series that dates back to the 1947-48 season.
 
MSU snapped UCO's 25-game home court winning streak by claiming a 73-66 win in the South Central Region championship game on March 15, 2011 to advance to its second consecutive NCAA Division II Elite Eight.
 
The Mustangs reeled off three consecutive postseason victories at Hamilton Fieldhouse, but have historically struggled at the facility.
 
MSU is 6-11 all time against the Bronchos at the Hamilton with its last regular season win coming by a 69-65 count on Feb. 2, 2002 - a span of four games.
 
The series has blossomed since the start of the 1992-93 season as the teams have squared off in 17 of the last 19 seasons. The Mustangs own a 13-10 edge during that time frame.