SPRINGFIELD — The Missouri State Bears will play four non-conference foes that played in the postseason a year ago and will square off with seven foes at JQH Arena prior to the start of Missouri Valley Conference play, head coach Dana Ford announced Monday with the release of his squad’s non-conference slate for the 2018-19 campaign.
“We always want to play a challenging non-league schedule moving forward,” said Ford. “I want our fan base to know we take them into consideration when we build our schedule. We understand their desire to watch us play against high-quality competition night in and night out.”
Missouri State’s non-conference schedule includes the season opener against Oral Roberts on Tuesday, Nov. 6 at JQH Arena in Ford’s first regular-season game as Bears’ head coach. The ORU game kicks off a three-game home stand that also includes match-ups against Robert Morris (Nov. 9) and Stetson (Nov. 11) in the opening rounds of the Hall of Fame Classic.
The Bears then travel to Sprint Center in Kansas City for the first time, Nov. 19-20, when they take on Nebraska in the semifinals of the Hall of Fame Classic and then either USC or Texas Tech the following night.
MSU then plays three straight on the road for the only time in 2018-19 with a competitive stretch at Murray State (Nov. 24), Air Force (Nov. 28) and Oregon State (Dec. 1). The Air Force game is part of the MVC-Mountain West Challenge.
December continues with a return visit from Western Kentucky (Dec. 5), a second trip to North Dakota State (Dec. 15) in as many years, and the Bears’ first game against Arkansas State (Dec. 18) since 2011. The non-league schedule concludes with home contests against UAPB (Dec. 22) and William Woods (Dec. 30).
Including the Missouri Valley Conference schedule, which will be released by the league in the coming weeks, the Bears will have 16 games at home for Ford’s inaugural season at the helm.
“In Kansas City, we play Nebraska with the possibility of facing Texas Tech or USC on national TV,” Ford summarized. “Those are marquee names, and that doesn’t include hosting NIT semifinalist Western Kentucky or going to Murray State, which was an NCAA Tournament team last season.
The Bears return three lettermen (Obediah Church, Jarred Dixon, Ryan Kreklow) and four other squad members (Abdul Fofana, Ross Owens, Jarred Ridder, Darrian Scott) from an 18-15 campaign.
The team’s 2018-19 roster also includes five eligible newcomers — Keandre Cook (G, 6-5, 190, Jr., Baltimore, Md., Edmondson-Westside High, Odessa (Texas) College); Kabir Mohammed (F, 6-5, 225, Jr., Lagos, Nigeria, Fort Washington (Md.) National Christian Academy, San Jacinto (Texas) College); Josh Webster (G, 6-4, 175, Sr., St. Louis, Mo., CBC High School, South Plains (Texas) College, Texas Tech Univ.); Jan Wojcik (F, 6-10, 210, Fr., Pelczyce, Poland, International High School); and Szymon Wojcik (F, 6-10, 210, Fr., Pelczyce, Poland, International High School). Three additional players — Tulio Da Silva (F, 6-8, 210, Jr., Formiga, Brazil, Arlington (Texas) Country Day School) from South Florida; Josh Hall (G/F, 6-7, 195, Jr., Houston Texas, Genesis Academy) from Nevada; and Tyrik Dixon (G, 6-1, 184, Jr., Bentonville, Ark., Southwest Christian Academy) from Middle Tennessee — will have to sit out the 2018-19 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Season tickets may be reserved now by phone (417) 836-8899 or email DuaneMiller@MissouriState.edu. The season-ticket application and additional ticket information can be accessed at MissouriStateBears.com.
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2018-19 Non-Conference Schedule Summary:
Tuesday, Oct. 30 vs. Evangel University • JQH Arena
EU in 2017-18: Evangel was 8-23 overall and 6-13 in the Heart of America Conference.
Noteworthy: MSU beat the Crusaders, 80-48, last year in a regular-season game at JQH Arena (Nov. 24)
Tuesday, Nov. 6 vs. Oral Roberts University • JQH Arena
ORU in 2017-18: The Golden Eagles were 11-21 overall and 5-9 in the Summit League, losing a double overtime game to Denver in the first round of the conference tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Series History: The series is tied, 8-8, with MSU winning 4 of 5 games at JQH Arena
Last Meeting: ORU 73, MSU 66 on Dec. 10, 2017 in Tulsa
Friday, Nov. 9 vs. Robert Morris • JQH Arena
RMU in 2017-18: The Colonials were 16-17 overall and 9-9 in the Northeast Conference, losing to Wagner in the NEC semifinals.
Series History: First meeting
Sunday, Nov. 11 vs. Stetson • JQH Arena
SU in 2017-18: The Hatters were 12-20 overall and 4-10 in the Atlantic Sun, falling to Lipscomb in the opening round of the ASC Tournament in Nashville.
Series History: Series tied, 1-1. First meeting at JQH Arena
Last Meeting: Stetson 80, MSU 76 at Hammons Student Center on Dec. 28, 2000
Monday, Nov. 19 vs. Nebraska • 6 p.m. • Sprint Center, Kansas City (Hall of Fame Classic)
NU in 2017-18: The Cornhuskers were 22-11 overall and 13-5 in the Big Ten. Nebraska lost to Mississippi State in the first round of the NIT
Series History: Nebraska leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Nebraska 98, MSU 46 on Jan. 15, 1983 in Lincoln, Neb.
Tuesday, Nov. 20 vs. USC or Texas Tech • 6 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. • Sprint Center, Kansas City (Hall of Fame Classic)
USC in 2017-18: The Trojans were 24-12 overall and 12-6 in the PAC-12. USC lost to Arizona in the PAC-12 Tournament finals and advanced to the NIT second round before falling, 79-75, to Western Kentucky.
Series History: USC leads 1-0
Last Meeting: USC 83, MSU 75 on Orleans Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 22, 2016
TTU in 2017-18: The Red Raiders were 27-10 overall and 11-7 in the Big 12. TTU lost to West Virginia in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament but still earned an NCAA berth, defeating S.F. Austin, Florida and Purdue before losing to eventual national champion Villanova in the Elite Eight.
Series History: Texas Tech leads 4-0
Last Meeting: TTU 80, MSU 68 in Lubbock, Texas on Nov. 22, 2014.
Saturday, Nov. 24 at Murray State • Murray, Ky.
MUR in 2017-18: The Racers were 26-6 overall and 16-2 in the Ohio Valley last season. MSU defeated Belmont in the OVC Tournament championship before falling to West Virginia in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
Series History: Series tied, 2-2. First meeting in Murray.
Last Meeting: Murray State 66, MSU 63 at JQH Arena on March 19, 2014.
Wednesday, Nov. 28 vs. Air Force • Colorado Springs, Colo. {MVC-Mountain West Challenge)
USAFA in 2017-18: The Falcons are coming off a 12-19 season and 6-12 finish in the Mountain West. USAFA lost in overtime to UNLV in the opening round of the Mountain West Tournament in Las Vegas.
Series History: Series tied, 1-1. MSU 0-1 in Colorado Springs.
Last Meeting: USAFA 83, MSU 70 on Dec. 3, 2016 in Colorado Springs.
Saturday, Dec. 1 at Oregon State • Corvallis, Ore.
OSU in 2017-18: The Beavers were 16-16 last season and finished 7-11 in the PAC-12, falling to USC in the PAC-12 tourney quarterfinals.
Series History: Series tied, 1-1. Bears 0-1 in Corvallis.
Last Meeting: MSU 63, OSU 48 at Hammons Student Center on Dec. 12, 1992
Wednesday, Dec. 5 vs. Western Kentucky • JQH Arena
WKU in 2017-18: The Hilltoppers were 27-11 overall and 14-4 in CUSA. WKU lost 67-66 to Marshall in the CUSA Tournament finals before a run to the NIT semifinals in New York.
Series: MSU leads 1-0. First meeting at JQH Arena
Last Meeting: MSU 85, WKU 80 at Bowling Green, Ky., on Nov. 10, 2017
Saturday, Dec. 15 at North Dakota State • Fargo, N.D.
NDSU in 2017-18: The Bison were 15-17 overall and 5-9 in the Summit League, falling to South Dakota State in the Summit Tournament semifinals.
Series History: Missouri State leads, 2-1. The Bears are 1-0 in Fargo.
Last Meeting: MSU 71, NDSU 58 at Fargo, N.D., on Dec. 4, 2017
Tuesday, Dec. 18 at Arkansas State • Jonesboro, Ark.
A-State in 2017-18: The Red Wolves were 11-21 overall and 6-12 in the Sun Belt. ULM topped A-State in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.
Series History: Missouri State leads, 22-9. The Bears are 7-7 in Jonesboro.
Last Meeting: MSU 77, A-State 46 in Jonesboro, Ark., on Nov. 15, 2011
Saturday, Dec. 22 vs. UAPB • JQH Arena
UAPB in 2017-18: The Golden Lions were 14-21 overall and 12-6 in the SWAC, falling to Texas Southern in the SWAC Tournament championship game.
Series History: Missouri State leads, 2-0. First meeting at JQH Arena.
Last Meeting: MSU 83, UAPB 80 at McDonald Arena on March 10, 1967
Sunday, Dec. 30 vs. William Woods • JQH Arena
WWU in 2017-18: The Owls (NAIA) were 14-17 overall and 11-11 in the American Midwest Conference.
Series History: Missouri State leads, 1-0, overall and at JQH Arena.
Last Meeting: MSU 77, WWU 56 at JQH Arena on Nov. 27, 2015
