CLAREMORE, Okla. – The Rogers State men's basketball starts the 2016-17 campaign by hosting some of the most prestigious programs, including the two preseason favorites in the Lone Star and Heartland Conferences, in NCAA Division II this weekend (Nov. 11-12) with four games  at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
The four-team field includes nationally ranked Midwestern State and UA Fort Smith. The Mustangs were picked to win the Lone Star Conference this season after winning the league in 2015-16. MSU ranked No. 20 in the preseason National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) top 25. The Mustangs claimed at least a share of four of the last five LSC championships since 2011-12 hold a 121-36 record overall during that time.
 
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UAFS enters the 2016-17 season as the preseason favorite in the Heartland Conference. The Lions received 15 of the 20 first-place votes in the poll, topping the preseason standings for the sixth straight time. UAFS ranks in the national top 25 at No. 23 in the NABC. A season ago, the Lions finished as the runner up in the league tournament and advanced to the NCAA Division II National Tournament. The Lions return three starters from the 2015-16 team.
 
Also in the field is Colorado State-Pueblo of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Thunderwolves went 16-13 in 2015-16 and finished in the top half of the RMAC with a 12-10 record. In the 2014-15 season, CSU-Pueblo ended with a 20 win season at 21-9 and fourth in the league. The Thunderwolves return two starters, including Preseason All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference selection Nelson Kahler.
 
The Hillcats return one starters from the 2015-16 Heartland Conference championship team. RSU ranked fourth in the Heartland Conference Preseason Poll with one first-place vote. In the 2015-16 season, the navy and red posted a 23-5 record, including 14-1 at the Claremore Expo Center.
 
The two-day event starts on Friday (Nov. 11) with a top 25 matchup between No. 23 UAFS and No. 20 Midwestern State at 5 p.m. The Hillcats and Thunderwolves clash at 7 p.m. on Friday night. To start Saturday (Nov. 12) UAFS plays CSU-Pueblo at 2 p.m. with RSU and MSU to follow at 4 p.m.
 
Nov. 11
No. 23 UAFS vs. No. 20 MSU – 5 p.m.
RSU vs. CSU-Pueblo – 7 p.m.
 
Nov. 12
No. 23 UAFS vs. CSU-Pueblo - 2 p.m.
RSU vs. No. 20 MSU – 4 p.m.