Match Info	Opponent Info
UT Tyler vs Black Hills State UTT: 0-0, 0-0 LSC | BHSU: 0-0, 0-0 LSC Saturday, Nov. 9th | 6 p.m. Alpine, Texas | Gallego Center		ROSTER	SCHEDULE	STATS
UT Tyler vs (RV) MSU Denver UTT: 0-0, 0-0 LSC | MSU: 0-0, 0-0 LSC Sunday, Nov. 10th | 3 p.m. Alpine, Texas | Gallego Center		ROSTER	SCHEDULE	STATS

WHAT COACH MOSER IS SAYING

On how the preseason has gone for the Patriots... "I think we're ready. I think we really tested ourselves in our three scrimmages and I think we learned what gets you beat. I think the positive thing about this year's team is that if we play well we have the talent to beat anyone on our schedule. We know both Black Hills State and Metro State offer huge challenges, both of them have great programs and are really well coached. We have our hands full this week."

On the construct of the 2024-25 roster... "We have great leadership this year. We have a couple of kids that this is their last year and they're really taking that leadership role and leading. Those kids have been through the grind of a season several times and they want to finish on the right note. Our returners have really done a tremendous job. It was hard to win only three games last year, so they've come back with some fire and they're competing like heck. I'm very happy and satisfied with how this group of guys has come together."

On the importance of a difficult opening weekend of opponents... "All of these games matter first and foremost. I think we're playing four potential NCAA Tournament opponents to start the year. Each one of these teams has been there and they've done it. It will be a great test to see where we are at right now. I think we have to play a tough schedule to give ourselves a chance to beat the teams in the Lone Star Conference. So I expect us to go out there and give it our best and if we can beat these teams it will really help us right out of the gate."

PATRIOT NEWS AND NOTES

- UT Tyler will tip-off the 22nd season of men's basketball on Saturday and Sunday at the Far West Texas Showdown in Alpine, Texas. The Patriots will start their sixth season of play at the NCAA Division II level with games against Black Hills State and (RV) MSU Denver on Saturday and Sunday on the campus of Sul Ross State. Black Hills State and MSU Denver were both selected within the top four of the 2024 RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll. 
- The Patriots enter the season 236-302 (.438) all-time as a program and hold a 48-81 (.372) record in five complete seasons of play at the NCAA Division II level. UT Tyler went 3-25 and 2-20 in Lone Star Conference play last season and have produced a 26-72 (.265) record in LSC games all-time.
- The University of Texas at Tyler men's basketball program has been selected no. 14 in the 2024 Lone Star Conference Men's Basketball Preseason Poll as announced by the conference office. The Patriots received 152 votes to appear no. 14 in the annual preseason poll. West Texas A&M will enter the season as the preseason favorites after earning 687 total points and 28 first-place votes.
- Head coach Tim Moser begins his second season as head coach of the program. Moser returns to the men's side of the collegiate game after serving as the Associate Head Coach for a remarkable turnaround within the UT Tyler women's basketball program.  As a head coach, Moser holds a 514-198 career record (.747) and has won 13 conference championships en route to 12 conference or region coach of the year accolades. Combined with his totals as an assistant coach, Moser has coached 20 conference championship teams during his storied career. He has served as head coach on the men's side at Eastern Wyoming College from 2018-2021 and at Otero Junior College from 1998-2005. He went 150-33 (.828) over six seasons as head coach of the women's side at Alaska-Anchorage from 2006-12. 
- The 2024-25 roster will feature 11 returners and 11 newcomers, providing coach Moser and his staff a balanced assortment of returning experience and incoming talent. Redshirt junior Nikolas Gustavson returns to the court for UT Tyler this season after appearing in 22 games last season with 14 starts, scoring double-digit point totals in eight appearances throughout the season. Senior Juan Pablo Camargo started all 28 games a season ago, averaging 5.8 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per contest. Khalik Gardner, who showed promise as a true freshman a year ago, is also set to return with a year of development under his belt and will round out the three most experienced returners for coach Moser and his staff. David Ayala, John Barbee, Donta Dawson Jr. and Jesse Fuller will all return to the roster as well after seeing meaningful minutes throughout the course of last season.
- The newcomers to the 2024-25 roster vary in backgrounds, but will all add to the length and athleticism of a roster that was close to competing with the majority of the Lone Star Conference last season. Dontrell Hewlett, Jadin Penigar and Xavier McCord join the program as proven contributors at the Division II level. Akok Machar, Sam Phipps and Hudson Anderson will bring high level junior college experience to the program, while Mareng Gotkouth and Arnaud Revaz will join the team with Division I backgrounds and a wealth of talent. A handful of freshman will also get a chance to see minutes this season.
- The Patriots have shown glimpses of success during the Division II era, having earned national rankings early in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons, but closed out both campaigns with three and eight game losing streaks, respectively. UT Tyler finished 9-17 last season and 5-17 in Lone Star Conference play. The Patriots had their best season of the Division II era the previous year as they went 16-10, made their first appearance in the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament and were regionally ranked in three editions of the NCAA Division II Regional Rankings.

SCOUTING BLACK HILLS STATE

- Black Hills State went 17-13 overall and 14-8 in RMAC play in 2023-24 to put together the program's seventh consecutive winning season. The Yellow Jackets have made the NCAA Division II National Tournament in three out of the last four seasons and were selected fourth in the RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
- The Yellow Jackets are led by a pair of returning guards in Caelin Hearne and John Shaklin. Hearne serves as the returning leading scorer for Black Hills State after averaging 12.9 points per contest last season. 
- Head coach Ryan Thompson enters his seventh season as head coach of the program and holds a 121-54 (.691) record as head coach. Thompson led the program to back-to-back NCAA Division II Final Four appearances in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and has twice been named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
- Saturday's meeting will mark the first between the two programs.

SCOUTING METRO STATE

- Metro State went 19-10 overall last season and 13-9 in RMAC play and enter 2024-25 picked second in the RMAC Coaches Poll.
- The Roadrunners begin the season in the receiving votes category of the NABC Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll.
- Metro State returns a pair of All-RMAC selections in Caleb McGill and KJ Garrett. McGill was a First Team selection after averaging 15.7 points and 5.4 rebounds and Garrett an Honorable Mention pick after averaging 10.6 points and 3.0 assists.
- Sunday will be the first meeting between the two programs.