PUEBLO, Colo. (Nov. 8, 2018) - The Colorado State University-Pueblo men's basketball team will open the 2018-19 season Nov. 8-9 on a road trip to Wichita Falls, Texas for the Conference Challenge, hosted by Midwestern State University. Friday, the ThunderWolves battle University of Arkansas-Fort Smith at 4 p.m. MT, while Saturday's tip against Rogers State University is set for 5 p.m. MT.
LIVE STATS vs UAFS
LIVE STATS vs RSU
THE PACK
• Last season CSU-Pueblo finished 11th in the league standings with a 9-13 record. The Pack were 12-16 overall, while the story of the season was their 1-8 record in games decided by five points or less. Jason Anderson (R-Jr., C, Colorado Springs, Colo.) was named All-RMAC Second Team, while Will Newman was first team and Josh Smith (now an assistant coach) was honorable mention in their final seasons.
• The Pack were selected to finish ninth in the 2018-19 RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The TunderWolves return eight players from last season that saw the floor and 10 who were in the program. Four returners logged 19 or more minutes per game last year. They are Gavin Liggett (R-Sr., G, Limon, Colo.), Anderson, Donovan Oldham (R-Jr., G/F, Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Corey Seng (So., G/F, Highlands Ranch, Colo.).
• Anderson was named Preseason All-RMAC after gathering All-RMAC Second Team honors last year, which was his first with the Pack. Of the returners, he is the leading scorer with 14.5 points per game. He also added 6.6 rebounds per contest after starting all 18 games he played. Oldham totaled 11.4 points per game after starting every contest as a sophomore. Seng mostly came off the bench (four starts), but averaged 6.0 points in 19.4 minutes per game. Liggett knocked down 47 3-pointers last season to lead the returners in that category. He closed last season with 5.8 points per game and started 22 contests.
• Head Coach Ralph Turner is in his eighth season as bench boss of the Pack and owns a 109-85 (.562) overall record.
THE LIONS
• The Lions went 24-6 last season with 12-4 mark in Heartland Conference play to share the conference title. The team made the NCAA South Central Region Tournament and lost the first round game to then-No. 2 UT-Permian Basin 87-69.
• With only two returning players from last season's Heartland Conference co-champion team, UFAS was selected to finish fifth in the preseason coaches' poll.
• Senior guard Chris Crawford is one returner. He averaged 7.4 points and 2.2 rebounds per game last season with a team-high 92 assists. Junior guard Seth Hawley is also back for UAFS after he played in 24 games as a sophomore and 19 contests as a freshman.
• Justin Bailey is in his first year as head coach.
• The game will be the third straight year the ThunderWolves and Lions have met. Last season the ThunderWolves fell 86-83 and the year before the Pack lost 88-83.
THE HILLCATS
• The Hillcats posted an 18-11 overall record a season ago, while their 9-7 league record placed them fourth in the Heartland Conference. RSU advanced to the Heartland Conference Tournament for the second straight season and lost in the first round, 78-63, to Lubbock Christian.
• Rogers State was slated to finish fourth in the Heartland Preseason Coaches' Poll. Senior guard Saint Hilaire was selected to the five-man Preseason All-Heartland Team.
• Hilaire returns after he posted 12.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. He was an all-conference honorable mention selection as a junior.
• RSU is in its third year as full members of NCAA Division II.
• Justin Barkley is in his ninth season as head coach of the Hillcasts.
• The meeting Saturday is the third straight season the ThunderWolves and Hillcats have gone to battle. Last season the ThunderWolves won 84-65, while in 2016-17, it was RSU on top, 85-82.
LOOKING AHEAD
• The home portion of the schedule will begin Nov. 16-17 with the 35th Annual Al Kaly Shrine Classic. The Pack will play at 7 p.m. both evenings against MSU Texas and Wayland Baptist, respectively.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
