Midwestern State vs. Rogers State
Nissan of Wichita Falls Conference Challenge
Friday, Nov. 9, 2018 | 7 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Series tied at 1-1 | First game at Ligon Coliseum | RSU won last meeting 73-67 (11/11/17 in Pueblo, Colo.)
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com | Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Audio: Mustangs Digital Network | Video: Mustangs Digital Network
 
THE OPPONENT: Rogers State is picked to finish fourth in the Heartland Conference Preseason Poll behind Dallas Baptist, Lubbock Christian and Newman… The Hillcats were 18-11 in 2017-18 going 9-7 against the Heartland Conference… Senior Saint Hillaire was named to the Preseason All-Heartland Conference squad after averaging 12.2 points in 29 games with 17 starts last season… Senior Tate Turner started all 29 games for the Hillcats in 2017-18 averaging 9.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game… Justin Barkley is in his ninth at the helm of the Rogers State program posting a163-77 mark (.679) with five 20-win campaigns…
 
Midwestern State vs. Arkansas-Fort Smith
Nissan of Wichita Falls Conference Challenge
Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018 | 8 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
MSU Texas leads series 2-1 | First game at Ligon Coliseum | UAFS won last meeting 88-74 (11/10/17 in Pueblo, Colo.)
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com | Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Audio: Mustangs Digital Network | Video: Mustangs Digital Network
 
THE OPPONENT: UA Fort Smith is picked to finish fifth in the Heartland Conference Preseason behind Dallas Baptist, Lubbock Christian, Newman and Rogers State… The Lions were Heartland Conference co-champions with Dallas Baptist in 2017-18 finishing 24-6 overall record going 12-4 in league play advancing to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional for the fourth time in five seasons… Senior guard Chris Crawford is the Lions top returning scorer with 7.4 points in 23 minutes over 30 games with 10 starts… Sole returners Seth Hawley (23 points) and Chris Crawford (21 points) combined for 44 points in a 98-87 exhibition loss at Central Arkansas on Oct. 29th… Former UAFS standout Justin Bailey begins his first season at the helm of his alma mater after serving as an assistant coach at Division I Lamar the last two season. He competed for the Lions during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons…
 
NISSAN OF WICHITA FALLS CONFERENCE CHALLENGE: Midwestern State opens the season by hosting the Nissan of Wichita Falls Conference Challenge on Nov. 9th and 10th at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Friday slate features Colorado State-Pueblo vs. Arkansas-Fort Smith at 5 p.m. followed by MSU Texas vs. Rogers State at 7 p.m. The classic concludes Saturday with Colorado State-Pueblo against Rogers State at 6 p.m. followed by Midwestern against Arkansas-Fort Smith at 8.
 
HAGGERTY BEGINS EIGHTH CAMPAIGN: Midwestern State boasts a 146-68 mark (.682) 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.
 
THOMAS GOES FOR DOUBLE-DOUBLE: Junior forward Gilbert Thomas went for 14 points and 15 rebounds in 26 minutes in Monday's 78-64 exhibition loss to NAIA Wiley College. He was joined in double figures by junior forward Bishop Coulter, who went for 12 points and five rebounds.
 
OFF WITH THE REDSHIRTS: Juniors Dorian Chatman and Josh Wallace gained experience with the Midwestern State system last season. Chatman transfer from Lamar playing in 61 games making 19 starts in his first two collegiate seasons. He scored 8.4 points and grabbed 3.9 rebounds as a freshman. Briefly at Jacksonville, Wallace averaged 11.8 points per game helping Palm Beach State College to 49 wins in two seasons in junior college. Locals Trae Young (Hirschi High School) and Case Caldwell (Burkburnett High School) will also fight for a role this season.
 
THE TRANSFER SIX: Midwestern State adds talent and experience bringing in six transfers including seniors JaJuan Starks (Eastern Illinois) and Darius Thompson (Tennessee-Martin). The Mustangs also added junior Elijah Lee (Pepperdine), D'monta Harris (Mineral Area College), Gilbert Thomas, Jr. (Murray State/Angelina College) and Bishop Coulter (Connors State).
 
THE FROSH FOUR: The Mustangs added a talented freshman group including Terrell Wilson (Houston, Texas/Marshall HS), Drake Dusek (Wichita, Kan./Katy (Texas) Tompkins HS), Zachary Rouseau (Plano, Texas/Bishop Lynch HS) and Tayvion Johnson (Houston, Texas/North Shore SH).
 
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.