PUEBLO, Colorado – Midwestern State embarks on its first road trip of the season as it visits Colorado State-Pueblo and UC Colorado Springs for games on Friday and Saturday. The Mustangs are Massari Arena to tangle with the Thunderwolves on Friday night at 7 p.m. CT, and Saturday afternoon they visit Gallogly Events Center for a meeting with the Mountain Lions at 4 p.m. CT.

Midwestern State (1-0) opened its season with an 85-57 thrashing of McMurry on Monday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs shot 50 percent from the field (27-of-54), including 10-of-23 (43.5%) from 3-point range. MSU hit 21-of-31 free throws in a game that featured 45 combined fouls. 

Midwestern State scored 26 points off 20 McMurry turnovers and finished with 18 fast-break points. The Mustangs scored 34 points in the paint and held the War Hawks to 30 percent shooting (15-of-50). MSU outrebounded McMurry, 45-29. Five different Mustangs blocked a shot, and MSU had 10 steals in the victory.

Aric Demmings led the Mustangs with 12 points while Trenton Pane and Vonte Sanders each scored 11 points in the season opener. Demmings also had four steals and a block in his MSU debut. Tehshaundre Cole was the leading rebounder for the Stangs, pulling down 10 boards while scoring eight points in the victory. Josiah Kirkwood and Kadon Jackson each scored eight points. Jackson and Sanders both had five rebounds for the Mustangs. Theo Brannon led MSU with seven assists, and the Mustangs had an assist on 21 of 27 field goals.

Midwestern State is 6-7 in the all-time series with CSU Pueblo and is 3-5 in eight previous trips to Pueblo. The Thunderwolves have won the last two meetings, including a 72-60 victory at D.L. Ligon Coliseum last season.

CSU Pueblo is hosting Midwestern State for its season opener as head coach Zach Ruebesam begins his second season at the helm. CSU Pueblo was 14-2 at home last season and finished with a 22-8 record overall. It was the first 20-win season for the Thunderwolves since the 1997-98 campaign. 

The Thunderwolves have seven players returning from last year's squad, including two starters. Senior guard Jaden Kennis and junior guard Macoy Terry are back with the Pack this season. Kennis averaged 11.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game last season. Terry averaged averaged 7.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and a team-leading 3.3 assists per game.

Colorado Springs will be hosting the Mustangs one day after playing Cameron. The Mountain Lions finished last season with a 15-14 overall record after opening the campaign with a 97-90 loss to the Mustangs at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
The all-time series between MSU and UCCS is tied, 3-3, and the Mustangs are 1-2 at Gallogly Events Center, including a 72-63 victory two years ago. MSU has won its last three meetings with the Mountain Lions.

Midwestern State returns home to face Southern Nazarene on Nov. 18 with tipoff at 7 p.m.