MSU has had an ongoing tradition of playing the Sheppard Air Force men in recreational sports leagues since Oct. 2022. Since the first game, the teams have competed in a multitude of different sports. The most notable is the flag football game that takes place in the fall.

In the spring of 2023 the two teams competed in the first basketball game. Last year the Sheppard Air Force men took the trophy and the bragging rights. 

Accounting senior Colten Ellis was on MSU’s intramural basketball team, his first time time playing a basketball game. Although he played in the flag football game that was in the fall.

The team was chosen because they won the intramural championship about a month ago, which also served as preparation for this game.

“Our entire team had played intramurals for like a month, and because we won the intramural championship, that was the preparation we had I guess. So we have kind of been off for a month,” Ellis said.

This year, SAFB took the trophy once again.  The final score of the action packed game was 51-47. During the game, SAFB had the lead over half the time, but there were a few times when MSU took over. 

“I don’t know if there is necessarily a rivalry, it’s just kinda sportsmanship all around. I think everybody is just competitive,” Ellis said.

While the game was entertaining, the SAFB crowd seemed more interested in competing with the MSU crowd on who could chant for their team the loudest. It seemed SAFB took the trophy in that aspect as well.

Ellis spoke on how involving the Airmen is a great thing not only for MSU, but for the Wichita Falls community as well.

“It is awesome. I mean just because anything that has to do with our armed forces, like I am all about it. So I just mean it is awesome to be able to do this,” Ellis said.

MSU and SAFB hope to continue this tradition of having their intramural teams compete with each other and further build the relationship that started when the teams frist competed against each other in a flag football game.