Men's Basketball 12/19/2010 9:06:00 PM MSU Sports Information

Game Day: #24 Mustangs going for ninth-straight win, take on Texas A&M-Commerce

Setting the Stage

Midwestern State continues its quest for its 500th win at D.L. Ligon Coliseum Monday night in a Lone Star Conference crossover game against Texas A&M-Commerce.

The Mustangs claimed win No. 497 last week against Northwestern Oklahoma State and have won their last 33 games under the dome dating back to the 2008-09 season opener.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. or 25 minutes following the conclusion of the women's game which begins at 6.

Where to Find the Game

100.9 BOB FM - The broadcast features the play-by-play voice of two-time Lone Star Conference Broadcaster of the Year Bill Powers.
On the Web - BOB-FM's audio broadcast is simulcast on BOBradio.fm. Link

Live Stats - Live stats are available courtesy of MSUMustangs.com. Link
LSC Scoreboard - MEN WOMEN

About the Mustangs

STREAKING AGAIN Midwestern State has won eight-straight games since falling in the season opener against Fort Hays State at the South Central Region Challenge in Bartlesville, Okla. It's the fifth time in the last three seasons the Mustangs have won at least as many games in a row. MSU boasted multiple 10-game winning streaks last season enjoying the best start in school history at 14-0, then carried a 10-game run into Elite Eight before bowing to St. Cloud State. The Mustangs had winning streaks of 10 and nine games during the 2008-09 campaign. A reminder, the Mustangs are two-time defending Lone Star Conference champions.

MORE STREAKING The Mustangs have won their last 19 games against competition from the Lone Star Conference North Division dating back to a 56-55 loss at Northeastern State on Dec. 15, 2008.

AND MORE STREAKING Midwestern State is the owner of the fourth longest active home court winning streak in NCAA Division II at 33 games dating back to a loss to Dallas Baptist in the opener of the 2008-09 season. The Mustangs have carried an 17.0-point average margin of victory while outscoring the opposition by an average of 83.8 points (2767 points in 33 games) to 66.8 (2203/33 games).

GOING FOR 500 The Mustangs are three wins away from claiming their 500th all-time win at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. MSU averages 12.3 wins and just three losses a season in its venerable home and boasts an impressive .801 winning percentage in now its 42nd year of playing home games in the historic venue.

SPEAKING OF HISTORY Senior guard Chris Hagan poured in a school record 50 points leading Midwestern State to a 91-82 win on Dec. 13 at Cameron. He connected on 17 of 26 shots from the field including eight 3-pointers and was 8-of-10 from the free throw line to tally the most points in a single game in NCAA men's game this season. He became the first LSC player to score 50 points in a game since Central Oklahoma Eddie Robinson poured in 52 against Southwestern Oklahoma in 1999. Hagan matched Ray Schumann for the most points in consecutive games by scoring 28 points on Dec. 16 against Northwestern Oklahoma State with 78 points. Schumann poured in 39 in consecutive games at Trinity (Texas) on Jan. 14-15, 1954.

MORE ABOUT HAGAN The Sporting News Preseason All American has been on fire thus far this season. He ranks second in the Lone Star Conference in scoring at 24.9 points a game. Hagan has led the Mustangs in scoring in eight of nine games this season and has scored at least 10 points in each of his last 13 games dating back to last season. He has tallied at least 20 points in his last three games and in six games in 2010-11.

LOYD IS LOADING UP As one of the highly anticipated transfers coming into NCAA Division II this season, junior guard Michael Loyd appears to be turning the corner after transferring from BYU prior to this season. He poured in 20 points - all in the second half - to help the Mustangs to an 86-69 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State on Dec. 16, 2010 at Ligon Coliseum. Loyd has scored in double figures in six games this season and is second on the squad averaging 12.9 points a game.

NEED 3? CALL DEUCE Junior guard Deuce Nichols has connected on 8 of his last 16 treys while averaging 12 points a contest over his last three outings. He knocked down three 3s to score 13 at Southwestern Oklahoma then followed with two more in a 10-point effort at Cameron and canned three more from the arc for 13 more against Northwestern Oklahoma State. He was 1-of-12 of MSU's previous six games.

DOING THE HEAVY LIFTING Midwestern State's front court quartet of senior Charlie Logan (6.0 points, 3.0 rebounds), junior David Terrell (8.3 points, 6.4 rebounds), junior Darrick Thomas (6.0 points, 5.2 rebounds) and junior Thomas Colbert (3.4 points, 4.9 rebounds) split time in the front court and are the key ingredients in helping MSU to a +6.0 rebounding edge. The quartet combines to shoot 56.3 percent from the field (89-of-158) with Thomas (.657), Terrell (.574) and Logan (.558) all ranking among conference leaders in individual field goal percentage.

About the Lions

Texas A&M-Commerce rebounded from consecutive losses to Abilene Christian and West Texas A&M to claim home victories over Eastern New Mexico and Paul Quinn last week to improve to 7-2 on the season.

The Lions boast a balanced attack as seven players score at least 6.5 points a game including four recording better than 10-point-a-game scoring averages.

Junior forward Desmond King leads the way on the inside at 17.1 points and 6.9 rebounds a game while guards Brian Singleton (13.7 points, 4.7 assists, 3.0 rebounds), Brad Hambrick (10.7 points, 2.3 rebounds) and Tyris Dowell (10.6 points, 4.4 rebounds) give Texas A&M-Commerce solid outside presence.

Sophomore forward Preston Whitley adds 9.9 points and 4.7 rebounds in 21.1 minutes a game.

Texas A&M-Commerce pours in 87.2 points a game while allowing 74.3.

About the Series

Midwestern State meets Texas A&M-Commerce for the 72nd time on the hardwood Monday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

The Mustangs own a 41-30 in the series between traditional small college basketball powerhouses which dates back to the 1947-48 season.

MSU has won the last five games of the series since the Lions left for the LSC North Division prior to the 2005-06 season and is 16-5 all time against the Lions at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

Texas A&M-Commerce's last win of the series came by an 87-61 count on Feb. 7, 2005 at the A&M-Commerce Field House.

-- MSUMustangs.com --

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Players Mentioned

#1 Chris Hagan: G; 5' 9"; Senior

#23 Charlie Logan: F; 6' 7"; Senior

#45 Thomas Colbert: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#10 Michael Loyd: G; 6' 1"; Junior

#5 Deuce Nichols: G/F; 6' 2"; Junior

#24 David Terrell: F; 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior

#21 Darrick Thomas: F; 6' 7"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#1 Chris Hagan
: 5' 9"; Senior
: G

#23 Charlie Logan
: 6' 7"; Senior
: F

#45 Thomas Colbert
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#10 Michael Loyd
: 6' 1"; Junior
: G

#5 Deuce Nichols
: 6' 2"; Junior
: G/F

#24 David Terrell
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior
: F

#21 Darrick Thomas
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F