PUEBLO, Colo. -- Midwestern State closes a season opening, two-game road swing Saturday night against Colorado State-Pueblo. Tipoff at Massari Arena is set for 8:30 p.m. (Central Time).
 
SERIES HISTORY
Midwestern State and Colorado State-Pueblo meet for the eighth time on the hardwood Saturday night at Massari Arena. The Thunderwolves have become quite the staple in MSU's non-conference slate as the program have met in six of the last nine seasons. The Mustangs have won three of the meetings played at Massari Arena including a 92-66 win last season.
 
DEJA VU FOR DARIUS
Senior guard Darius Thompson led Midwestern State's attack with a 14-point, 6-rebound effort Friday against UC Colorado Springs. It is the second consecutive year Thompson led the Mustangs in scoring on opening night. Last season, the 6-3 guard had 15 points in a season-opening victory over Rogers State.
 
HARRIS CONTINUES TREND
Senior D'Monta Harris picked up where he left off at the end of last season by hitting two 3-pointers to finish with 14 points in the season opener at UC Colorado Springs. The 6-5 guard scored in double figures while connecting on at least two triples in four of his last five games in 2018-19.
 
TRAE FINDING STROKE
Sophomore Trae Jones tallied 11 points while hitting on 3-of-4 of his effort from beyond the arc Friday at UC Colorado Springs. It was his first double-digit scoring night since going 10 on Dec. 1, 2018 at West Texas A&M.
 
ABOUT THE THUNDERWOLVES
True freshman Jaedon Bowles buried five triples to lead Colorado State-Pueblo's 92-69 onslaught over Cameron Friday night at Massari Arena. The two-time all-state performer out of Manual High School in Aurora, Colo. connected on 7-of-11 shots including a 5-of-9 effort from beyond the arc. Senior forward Donovan Oldham was just as hot going 8-of-10 from the field with three 3-pointer to finish with 20 points and seven rebounds against the Aggies. The Thunderwolves were able to win first-year coach Matt Hammer's debut. Hammer became CSU-Pueblo's seventh head coach in program history after posting a 118-43 record (.733) the last five seasons at Sheridan College. The Thunderwolves were picked 12th in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Preseason Poll after going 6-22 last season.
 
ALL ABOARD WITH COACH LESLIE
Justin Leslie makes the move to Wichita Falls following a highly successful run at Azusa Pacific. He led his alma mater to an average of 22 wins per season in his 12 season at the helm including nine 20-win campaigns, two Pacific West Conference titles and an NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance in 2015. Overall, Leslie boasts a 266-122 record (.686) as a collegiate head coach following Friday's season opening setback at UC Colorado Springs.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State takes on nationally ranked West Texas A&M in its home opener Thursday night at  D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.