THIS WEEK - The Southwest Minnesota State University men's basketball team opens the 2014-15 season with a pair of neutral site games this Friday and Saturday, facing a pair of Central Region opponents at the GAC/NSIC Challenge at Bruin Fieldhouse in Bartlesville, Okla. SMSU will open on Friday taking on East Central University (Okla.) with tip-off slated for 7:30 p.m., before facing Arkansas Tech University on Saturday with game time set for 2 p.m. Both East Central and Arkansas Tech are members of the Great American Conference. Arkansas Tech received votes in the NABC/Division II preseason Top 25 poll.
RADIO - Both games this weekend can be heard on the stations of Marshall Radio with Anthony Rohlik calling the play-by-play. Friday's game will be broadcast on 105.1 FM KARL, while Saturday's game can be heard on 1400 AM KMHL.
SEASON OPENERS - Southwest Minnesota State is 26-21 all-time in season opening games, including dropping its last two lid-lifters. SMSU lost 89-72 at home last season to Fort Hays State and also lost to Cal. State-Dominguez Hills at the 2012 Disney Tip-Off Classic in Anaheim, Calif. The Mustangs have won five of the last eight season openers and 13 of the last 18. The last time played a season opener at home was on Nov. 17, 2009, defeating Dordt College (Iowa) 86-59.
SERIES HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State has never faced either East Central or Arkansas Tech in basketball and in fact has never played a current member of the 11-team Great American Conference.
ABOUT EAST CENTRAL - East Central finished last season with a 15-12 overall record, including a fourth place finish in the 11-team Great American Conference with a mark of 12-8. It was ECU's first winning season since 2007-08. The Tigers return three of their top four scorers and will be led by senior forward Henry Pwono, who led the team in rebounding last season with 6.6 rpg and ranked second in scoring with 11.9 ppg. Sophomore guard A.J. Moutry led the team with 62 3-pointers and averaged 10.7 ppg. Senior guard Brandon Lucas averaged 11.5 ppg and connected on 36 3-pointers. ECU head coach Ja Havens is in his second season with a record of 15-12.
ABOUT ARKANSAS TECH - Arkansas Tech won its third straight Great American Conference title last season and finished with a 21-10 overall record, including 15-5 in the GAC. The Wonder Boys also advanced to the NCAA tournament for the sixth straight season. ATU must replace its top three scorers and rebounder from a season ago. Senior forward Darrick Little is the team's top returning scorer after averaging 9.3 ppg in 2013-14. ATU head coach Chad Kline is in his first season after serving as an assistant coach the prior three seasons.
