Midwestern State (0-0) vs. Oklahoma Christian (0-0)
Fri., Nov. 9 | 4 p.m.
Fugate Gymnasium | Wichita, Kan.
Live Stats: NewmanJets.com | Watch: Heartland Digital Network | Tournament Central: NewmanJets.com
Series History: OC leads 6-5 | Last Meeting: MSU Texas won 72-68 on Nov. 11, 2017 in Wichita Falls
Trend: Eagles are coming off a 10-18 campaign
Player to Watch: Sr. G Addy Clift – D2CCA All-American last season averaging 21.7 PPG
 
Midwestern State (0-0) vs. Newman (0-0)
Sat., Nov. 10 | 4 p.m.
Fugate Gymnasium | Wichita, Kan.
Live Stats: NewmanJets.com | Watch: Heartland Digital Network | Tournament Central: NewmanJets.com
Series History: NU leads 3-0 | Last Meeting: MSU Texas lost 67-52 on Nov. 20, 2016 in Denton
Trend: Jets were 17-12 last season
Player to Watch: Sr. G Bria DeGrate – Top returning scorer for the Jets at 10.3 PPG
 
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State tips off the 2018-19 campaign on Friday and Saturday at the Heartland-Lone Star Challenge in Wichita, Kan. The Mustangs meet Oklahoma Christian in Friday's season opener and Newman on Saturday. Tipoff in both games is set for 4 p.m.
 
Storylines
Year 11 of Noel Johnson Era
The Noel Johnson era enters its 11th season in 2018-19 after becoming the winningest coach in program history on Dec. 19, 2017 in a 72-66 win at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
 
Overall, the Mustangs have posted a 139-138 (.502) record under Johnson's guidance with three-straight NCAA Division II South Central Regional berths from 2013-15 and a regional title game appearance during a historic run in 2012-13.
 
Preseason Outlook
Midwestern State was pegged eighth in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll the league office announced on Wednesday.
 
The Mustangs tallied 140 points from the 31 ballots cast in the preseason rankings as voted on by the league's head coaches, sports information directors and media representatives.
 
West Texas A&M was picked as the conference's preseason favorite with 324 points and 18 first place votes. The Lady Buffs won the LSC Postseason Tournament and advanced to the Regional Finals a season ago.
 
Angelo State garnered 307 points and seven first place nods after sharing the regular season title with WT last year.
 
Tarleton State snagged 279 points and four first place votes while Texas A&M-Commerce followed with 252 points and two first place picks.
 
Eastern New Mexico (199), Cameron (177), Texas Woman's (154), Midwestern State (140), UT Permian Basin (98), Texas A&M-Kingsville (74) and Western New Mexico (42) rounded out the poll.
 
Angelo State's Marquita Daniels was tabbed the league's preseason player of the year after earning Player of the Year honors a season ago.
 
Newcomers
The Mustangs welcomed four new faces to the program this offseason. Frances King and Tamyra Avery join the team after standout prep careers at Rockdale and Wagner High Schools, respectively.
 
Haevyn Risley transferred from Black Hills State after claiming TABC 3A Player of the Year accolades and a state championship at Canadian High School. She joins the Mustangs with four years of eligibility as a redshirt freshman.
 
Erin Alexander comes to the Maroon and Gold by way of Cloud County Community College. The 6-1 post was a two-time first team All-Jayhawk Conference performer.
 
Returners
The Maroon and Gold return two starters and seven letterwinners from last season's 13-14 squad, headlined by seniors Chelcie Kizart (5.0 PPG, 2.0 APG, 2.5 RPG) and Anni Scholl (1.1 PPG, 0.2 APG, 1.1 RPG).
 
Juniors Mica Schneider (4.1 PPG, 2.3 RPG) and Liz Cathcart (6.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG) along with sophomores Hannah Reynolds (5.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG) and Kityana Diaz (1.9 PPG, 0.5 RPG) also return as key contributors from last year's team.
 
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.
 
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Up Next
MSU Texas hosts the Ashbrook Classic Presented by Comfort Inn on Nov. 16-17, welcoming Texas Wesleyan, Dallas Christian and Newman to D.L. Ligon Coliseum.