Midwestern State at Colorado State-Pueblo
MSU Texas (1-1), CSU-Pueblo (1-1)
Al Kaly Shrine Classic
Friday, Nov. 16, 2018 | 8 p.m. (Central Time)
Massari Arena | Pueblo, Colo.
Series tied at 3-3 | 2-2 at Massari Arena | CSU-P won last meeting 87-74 (11/24/15 in Wichita Falls)
Live Stats: GoThunderwolves.com | Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Audio: Mustangs Digital Network | Video: GoThunderwolves.com
 
THE OPPONENT: Colorado State-Pueblo was picked to finish ninth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Poll… Junior Jason Anderson is a preseason All-RMAC selection after earning second-team all-league honors last season averaging 14.5 points per game… Junior forward Donovan Oldham averaged 22 points and 6.5 rebounds helping the Thunderwolves to a split with Arkansas-Fort Smith (W, 90-83) and Rogers State (L, 68-60) last weekend at the Nissan of Wichita Falls Classic in Wichita Falls… Friday's game will be Ralph Turner's 200th at the helm of the CSU-Pueblo program. His 112-87 (.563) since taking over the program prior to the 2011-12 campaign…
 
Midwestern State vs. Adams State
MSU Texas (1-1), Adams State (0-2)
Al Kaly Shrine Classic
Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 | 4 p.m.
Massari Arena | Pueblo, Colo.
MSU Texas leads series 4-0 | First game at neutral site | MSU Texas won last meeting 103-88 (11/14/16 in Wichita Falls)
Live Stats: GoThunderwolves.com | Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Audio: Mustangs Digital Network | Video: GoThunderwolves.com
 
THE OPPONENT: Adams State was picked to finish 11th in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Poll… Adams State faces its third Lone Star Conference opponent this season. The Grizzlies fell to UT Permian Basin (101-98) and West Texas A&M (112-87) last weekend at Plachy Hall in Alamosa… Mississippi Valley transfer Davere Creighton splashed in 20 points in each of his first two games for ASU scoring 22 against UT Permian Basin and 21 versus West Texas A&M… The Grizzlies score 92.5 points per game with five players in double figures including Creighton (21.5 ppg), senior guard John Dewey (14.0 ppg), junior guard Rickey Norris (12.0 ppg), junior guard Justice Augmon (11.5 ppg) and junior guard Shemar Johnson (10.0 ppg)… Justice Augmon is the son of UNLV great Stacey Augmon, a member of the Jerry Tarkanian's 1990 NCAA Championship team who also enjoyed a long NBA career with the Detroit Pistons, Portland Trailblazers, Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets and Orlando Magic… Russ Caton is in his fourth season leading the Adams State men's basketball program sporting a 44-47 mark (.484). He is coming off of his best season with the Grizzlies at 18-14…
 
AL KALY SHRINE CLASSIC: Midwestern State heads to the mountains to compete in the Al Kaly Shrine Classic for a fourth time. The Mustangs swept games in their first trip in 2011 beating New Mexico Highlands (79-64) and Colorado State-Pueblo (70-56) then split games in 2012 – Oklahoma Christian (W, 71-56) and CSU-Pueblo (L, 72-69) – and 2014 – Western State (W, 77-63) and CSU-Pueblo (L, 89-76). MSU Texas also competed in the CSU-Pueblo Conference Challenge last season at Massari Arena falling to Arkansas-Fort Smith (88-74) and Rogers State (73-67). Overall, Midwestern State sports a 5-4 mark in games played in the venue.
 
HAGGERTY IN HIS EIGHTH CAMPAIGN: Midwestern State boasts a 147-69 mark (.681) in Nelson Haggerty's eighth season as head coach. He has led the Mustangs to the NCAA postseason in five of his seven seasons including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2012 and four LSC championships in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016. Haggerty claimed his second LSC Coach of the Year award in 2016 sharing honors with former Cameron coach Nate Gamet. He also claimed the honor in 2012.
 
MUSTANGS PICKED SIXTH IN LSC PRESEASON POLL: Midwestern State received 149 total points in the 2018-19 Preseason Poll slotted behind Texas A&M-Commerce, West Texas A&M, Tarleton State, Angelo State and UT Permian Basin. The Mustangs finished eighth in the Lone Star Conference last season posting an 11-18 overall record going 7-11 against league opposition.
 
MUSTANGS TAKE SEASON OPENER: Midwestern State improved to 7-1 in season opener during the Nelson Haggerty era beating Rogers State 80-71 in the Nissan of Wichita Falls Classic last weekend in Wichita Falls. The Mustangs moved to 32-4 all-time in lid lifters played at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.  
 
WALLACE LEADING WAY: Junior guard Josh Wallace leads Midwestern State and ranks 10th in the Lone Star Conference averaging 15 points per game. The transfer from Palm Beach State (Fla.) scored 14 points in the season opening win over Rogers State, then had 16 points against Arkansas-Fort Smith.
 
REBOUNDING FORCE: Junior Gilbert Thomas, Jr. ranks sixth in the Lone Star Conference pulling down 10 rebounds a game. in fact, the 6-6 junior transfer from Angelina College grabbed exactly 10 boards in both games of the Nissan of Wichita Falls Classic last weekend against Arkansas-Fort Smith and Rogers State.
 
RAINING 3s: Six different Midwestern State players connected on 3-pointers through the opening two games of the season led by redshirt-freshman Trae Jones and seniors JuJuan Starks and Darius Thompson who have connected on three each. Overall, the Mustangs are shooting 34.1 percent from beyond the arc which is fourth in the LSC while averaging 7.5 makes per game – also fourth in the conference.
 
MUSTANGS ON ESPN 95.5:  Every Midwestern State men's basketball will air live on ESPN 95.5 FM beginning the pregame show 15 minutes prior to tipoff.
 
MUSTANGS DIGITAL NETWORK: All Midwestern State home games are set for broadcast on the Mustangs Digital Network both live and on demand at MSUMustangs.tv. Season passes are available for $30 while single games run $9 each.
 
FOLLOW US: Follow news, notes and photos for all Midwestern State athletic teams on MSUMustangs.com or on social media at MSUMustangs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.