THOMASVILLE, Ga. – After a 79-65 road victory over Point opened Brent Crews' tenure as coach of the Thomas University men's basketball team, the Night Hawks will face Middle Georgia State on Nov. 4 in search of a second consecutive victory.  The game, which continues a difficult stretch of five road games in the season's first three weeks, will be a good measuring stick of offseason improvement for Crews and company.
 
Thomas was impressive in its season-opening victory, as four different players reached double figures, led by Adonai Rogers' 18 points.  The team shot a solid 45-percent from the floor but, more importantly, seemed to gel as the game went on.  After outscoring the Skyhawks just 39-36 in the opening 20 minutes, the Night Hawks ramped up the intensity at both ends of the floor in the second half.  Point managed just 29 second half points, while Thomas poured in 40.
 
Additionally, the Night Hawks did not seem one-dimensional offensively, a trend that, should it continue, would make the team difficult to defend.  In addition to Rogers' 18 points, Javoris Cooks added 17, Jalen Bonds had 14 and TJ Rines chipped in 11. Of all players in double figures Bonds had the highest shooting percentage, as he was a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor.
 
The Night Hawks upcoming opponent, Middle Georgia State, figures to be one of the more talented teams that TU will face this season.  The Knights are returning nearly all of a 2014 team that was nearly .500 in its inaugural season in a new classification, a feat many teams cannot claim.  MGSU knocked off fifth-ranked William Carey on Jan. 2 for the school's first ever victory over a Top 10 opponent.
 
The Knights were difficult at home, posting an 8-4 record, and the team played a difficult schedule that should also prove beneficial in 2015.  MGSU played five teams ranked in the Top 15, posting a 1-4 record but playing most of those games closely.
 
The team returns David Bivins and Ryan Wilkins, two of the Knights' top scorers from a season ago.  Bivins and Wilkins each scored 24 in a season-ending 92-81 victory over Coastal Georgia.
 
After Wednesday's game versus Middle Georgia State, the Night Hawks will face Coastal Georgia on Nov. 7 before a home-opening contest with Brewton-Parker on Nov. 11.  Tip-off versus MGSU is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Cochran, Ga.
 
For up-to-date information on this game and other TU Athletics, visit http://www.TUNightHawks.com. Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, play-by-play, and feature stories of your TU men's basketball team by following them via Twitter at @NightHawksMBKB.