Missouri State basketball fans will have a chance to meet the 2011-12 Bears and Lady Bears during a special Twilight Tip-Off event at JQH Arena on Sunday, Oct. 16.
Both programs feature a host of new talent and new faces, including first-year head coach Paul Lusk who has seven new players on the men’s side, while Lady Bears’ head coach Nyla Milleson welcomes three newcomers to her program in her fifth season at MSU. Both coaches helped plan the event and are excited to interact with Missouri State fans as the new season gets underway.
The fan-interactive event will begin at 7 p.m. with the Lady Bears taking the floor in style prior to their abbreviated intrasquad scrimmage. Following the women’s scrimmage, there will be a three-point contest and a dunk contest that will require fan participation. Then, the Bears will be introduced and conduct their own instrasquad scrimmage. The night will conclude with autographs and a chance to meet this year’s MSU players and coaches.
Additional specials, give-aways and promotions for the night will be announced in the coming days. Fans are encouraged to check Facebook.com/MissouriStBears for special announcements and news related to the Twilight Tip-Off event.
In other basketball news, single-game tickets for all Bears’ and Lady Bears’ home games will go on sale starting Tuesday, October 11 at 10 a.m., at the Chevy Pickup Window located at JQH Arena or by phone at (417) 836-7678 and MissouriStateTix.com.
The Bears are coming off a 26-9 season in which they won the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title for the first time in the program’s history. MSU returns six lettermen and two starters, including 2011 MVC Player of the Year and AP All-America selection Kyle Weems.
The Lady Bears were 24-11 last season and finished second in both the MVC regular-season race and post-season tournament. Coach Milleson returns 10 letter winners, including four starters and 2010 MVC Player of the Year Casey Garrison who is a three-time All-MVC performer.
— MSU Sports Information —