LAWTON, Okla. – The Cameron men's basketball team opens up the 2018-19 season by hosting the Lone Star/Heartland Conference Challenge this weekend, Nov. 9-10.

LSC/Heartland Schedule | Conference Challenge Hub
Friday, Nov. 9
G1) Texas A&M-Commerce vs. Oklahoma Christian | 5:30 p.m.
G2) Cameron vs. Newman | 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 10
G3) Texas A&M-Commerce vs. Newman | 2 p.m.
G4) Cameron vs. Oklahoma Christian | 4 p.m.

Starting 5:
1. Cameron was picked eighth in the Lone Star Conference Preseason poll earlier this fall, despite finishing last season in sixth in the league standings.
2. Last season against Oklahoma Christian, Johann Tate scored 21 points in 27 minutes off the bench, going 4-8 from the field and 10-10 from the charity stripe.
3. Newman was picked third in the Heartland Conference preseason poll after going 10-6 in league play and 14-14 overall a year ago.
4. Oklahoma Christian, who was picked seventh in the Heartland preseason poll, beat Manhattan Christian 100-56 in their lone exhibition contest, with four players scoring in double-figures, including Aubrey Johnson and York Benjamin who each had 13 points.
5. This is the fourth straight season that Cameron will open up the season with the LSC/Heartland Challenge, holding a 4-2 record against the Jets and Eagles.

About the Aggies:
Cameron, who went 11-17 overall and 7-11 in LSC play last season, has an even mix of returners (seven) and newcomers (six, all freshmen). They will be under the direction of third year head coach Andrew Brown, who has a 28-29 record in two seasons at CU.

CU's top returner is senior Tyus Momoh, who is coming off of a year where he started 26 games and averaged 8.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game a year ago. The Aggies also return forwards Jalen Nicholas, Chris Royal, and Cole Lehr, and guards Zach Dumas, Johann Tate, and Jordan Lewis.

Joining that experience on the court will be six true freshman, including Oklahoma All-State players Dalton Vinson from Hennessey, Okla. and Brock Schreiner from Choctaw, Okla. and a State Championship winning duo from Cypress Falls HS in Houston, TX in Andrew Nguyen and Kendall Scott.

Scouting the Jets:
Newman is entering their second season under head coach R.J. Allen, and return four seniors who all played in 27 of the 28 games last year. They return their top two leading scorers in Dametrius Walker and Ben Ayre. Walker led the team with 14.7 points to go along with 3.5 rebounds per game, while Ayres averaged 13.4 points and 3.9 assists in during the 2017-18 campaign.  

Scouting the Eagles:
Oklahoma Christian is coming off a year where they went 12-18 overall and 6-10 against the Heartland. They return one of their top scorers from last season, Jordan Box, who averaged 15.4 points while shooting 42.4 percent from the field. Also back is Roderick Smith, who also averaged double-digits (12.7) last season to go along with 7.1 rebounds per contest. Smith had 12 points and eight rebounds in the exhibition against Manhattan Christian, while fellow returner Will Lienhard had 11 rebounds and three blocks in the contest.

Up Next:
Cameron will face their first road test of the season as they visit Lubbock Christian on Saturday, Nov. 17 for the first game of a home-and-home series between the two schools.