ADA, Okla. - It couldn't have come at a better time for a better player in Monday night at Kerr Center.
Senior guard
Craig Green poured in a career-high 32 points to lead No. 19 Midwestern State to a 103-85 win over East Central (Okla.) in a Lone Star Conference crossover play.
The Mustangs improved to 10-0 for the first time since the 1998-99 season and extended their home court winning streak to 15 games and Green played a key role.
"We needed him tonight when we couldn't get things going in the first half," MSU coach
Grant McCasland said. "Craig carried us in a game that definitely wasn't pretty. He took it to the basket and was aggressive. I'm proud of him."
The Keller native connected on 7-of-13 shots including three 3-pointers for 21 points in the opening half as the Mustangs scrapped through foul trouble and a drastic style change by East Central as MSU would lead 48-47 at halftime.
"They play a very different style where they want to move up and down the floor quickly and they switch everything on defense," McCasland said. "We wanted to make them guard us a little longer. After the half, I felt like our depth would make the difference."
The Mustangs hit the floor running in the second half as
Rashad Austin got things going with a fast break layup followed by three consecutive lay-ins by
Jason Ebie,
Chris Hagan and another by Austin.
Green got back into the mix on a cut to the basket then connected on 1-of-2 shots on an ECU technical foul to complete an 11-2 run and give the Mustangs a 59-49 win just over two minutes into the second half.
MSU pushed the lead out to a game-high 22 when
Michael Godwin converted a fast break opportunity to give the Mustangs a 100-78 lead with 3:14 remaining.
Green was joined by three more MSU players in double figures as Austin had 15 points and eight rebounds, Godwin dropped in 14 points and had six rebounds and Hagan added 14 points and seven assists.
Ebie added nine points and five rebounds to go along with three steals.
East Central (3-4) was paced by junior guard Dontae Figgs, who had 20 points and eight rebounds.
Midwestern State plays host to Cameron in the continuation of the Red River Rivalry Saturday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. or 25 minutes after the conclusion of the women's contest which begins at 6.
The Aggies claimed a 48-47 win over West Texas A&M Monday night in Lawton.
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-- MSUMustangs.com --