Midwestern State vs. Arkansas-Fort Smith
CSU-Pueblo Conference Challenge
Friday, Nov. 10, 2017 | 6 p.m.
Massari Arena | Pueblo, Colo.
Live Stats: GoThunderwolves.com |
Radio: None |
Video: CSU-Pueblo Pack Vision
Midwestern State vs. Rogers State
CSU-Pueblo Conference Challenge
Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 | 6 p.m.
Massari Arena | Pueblo, Colo.
Live Stats: GoThunderwolves.com |
Radio: None |
Video: CSU-Pueblo Pack Vision
FREE THROWS
- Midwestern State opens the 2017-18 season with the first of four classics. The Mustangs take on Arkansas-Fort Smith and Rogers State (Okla.) as part of the CSU-Pueblo Conference Challenge.
- The Mustangs also compete in the Comfort Inn Classic on Nov. 17-18 in Gunnison, Colo. Taking on Colorado Mesa and Western State. MSU travels to the Florida Southern Classic on Nov. 24 and 25 in Lakeland, Fla. Taking on Saint Leo (Fla.) and host Florida Southern. Midwestern competes in the Rollins Las Vegas Classic on Dec. 18 and 19 in at the Doolittle Center against Rollins (Fla.) and Southern Indiana.
- Midwestern State is 50-21 all-time in season openers and is a perfect 6-0 during the Nelson Haggerty era (beginning in 2011-12).
- For the second consecutive season, the Mustangs open against Arkansas-Fort Smith. MSU defeated the Lions 83-80 in overtime on Nov. 11, 2016 in Claremore, Okla.
- It's second time MSU lifts the lid on a campaign in Pueblo. The Mustangs knocked off Western State 77-63 on Nov. 14, 2014 at Massari Arena.
- The Mustangs return one starter and six letter winners off of last season's 14-14 squad which finished seventh in the Lone Star Conference.
- Senior guard Brandon Neel is the top returner for the Mustangs as an All-Lone Star Conference honorable mention in 2016-17. He led the team in scoring at 14.4 points while pulling down 4.7 rebounds and dishing out 2.6 assists per game.
- Other returners include senior guard Devante Pullum (10.7 ppg, 5.7 apg), sophomore guard Logan Hicks (10.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg), senior forward Nick Powell (6.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg), junior forward Nemanja Krtolica (2.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and senior guard DeQuaan Haggerty.
- The Mustangs welcome six transfers including sophomore guard Romello Walker (Binghamton), junior forward Wanaah Bail (UCLA), junior forward Dorian Chatman (Lamar), senior forward Josh Huntley (Stephen F. Austin), senior guard Trey Kennedy (Southern Utah) and junior guard Ola Ayodele (Laramie County CC).
- Redshirt-freshman Charles Callier is set to make his MSU debut while the Mustangs also inked a pair of freshmen in Trae Jones (Wichita Falls Hirschi HS) and Case Caldwell (Burkburnett HS).
- Nelson Haggerty begins his seventh season at the helm of the MSU men's basketball program with an overall record of 135-50 (.730). The Mustangs posted 20 wins and advanced to the NCAA Division II tournament in five of Haggerty's six season. Midwestern made an Elite Eight appearance in his first season as boss in 2012 and have claimed four Lone Star Conference titles during his tenure.
- MSU was picked to finish fourth in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll of coaches, sports information directors and selected media receiving one first-place vote.
- Midwestern State and Arkansas-Fort Smith meet for the third time on the hardwood Friday afternoon at Massari Arena. The Mustangs won each of the first two meetings including a 72-66 win in the opening round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional in Denver on March 15, 2014. MSU claimed an 83-80 overtime victory over the 23rd-ranked Lions to start last season in Claremore, Okla.
- UA-Fort Smith earned a preseason No. 19 ranking from Basketball Times. The Lions are favored to win the Heartland Conference.
- UA-Fort Smith senior DaVaunta Thomas leads six returning letter winners off of last season's 23-7 team which advanced to the South Central Regionals. Thomas averaged 12.2 points and 6.1 boards a season ago.
- Midwestern State and Rogers State meet for the second time on the hardwood Saturday afternoon at Massari Arena. The Mustangs claimed an 81-63 victory last season in Claremore.
- The Hillcats were picked to finish fourth in the Heartland Conference after posting a 19-10 mark in 2016-17.
- Senior guard Baron Smith, Jr. is a preseason All-Heartland Conference pick after averaging 14 points and shooting 41 percent from the arc last season.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
