Men's Basketball 12/29/2010 5:49:00 PM MSU Sports Information

Game Day: #21 Mustangs return from the break, take on Evangels

Setting the Stage

No. 21 Midwestern State returns from a 10-day holiday layoff to play host to Mid-America Christian Thursday night at D.L.Ligon Coliseum.

The Mustangs put numerous streaks on the line against the NAIA Evangels.

MSU can advance its home court winning streak to 35 games while extending its current winning streak to 10 games.

The Mustangs will be going for their 499th win at Ligon Coliseum.

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 nine-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.

MORE STREAKING The Mustangs have won their last 20 games against competition from the Lone Star Conference North Division dating back to a 56-55 loss at Northeastern State on Dec. 15, 2008. Midwestern is 5-0 this season with remaining games at Northeastern State on Jan. 6 and Central Oklahoma on Jan. 8. This marks the last season the LSC will compete in a divisional format as NSU and UCO will spend next season as an independent before heading to the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletic Association while Southwestern Oklahoma, Southeastern Oklahoma and East Central are headed to the new Great American Conference. Texas A&M-Commerce and Cameron will remain in the Lone Star Conference.

AND MORE STREAKING Midwestern State is the owner of the fourth longest active home court winning streak in NCAA Division II at 34 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 84.4 points (2869 points in 34 games) to 67.6 (2297/34 games).

GOING FOR 500 The Mustangs are two 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 .802 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 24.7 points a game. Hagan has led the Mustangs in scoring in nine of 10 games this season and has scored at least 10 points in each of his last 14 games dating back to last season. He has tallied at least 20 points in his last four games and in seven 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 seven games this season and is second on the squad averaging 13.4 points a game.

NEED 3? CALL DEUCE Junior guard Deuce Nichols has connected on at least two 3-pointers in each of his last four games while hitting on a 10-of-21 clip (.476) from beyond the arc during the stretch. He buried three treys at Southwestern Oklahoma on Dec. 11 to start the binge and followed with two at Cameron (12/13), three more against Northwestern Oklahoma (12/16) and two more against Texas A&M-Commerce (12/20). He was 1-of-12 from the 3-point arc in his first six games this season at MSU as he canned his first 3-ball against Fort Hays before misfiring on 11 straight heading into the latest streak.

DOING THE HEAVY LIFTING Midwestern State's front court quartet of senior Charlie Logan (6.8 points, 4.2 rebounds), junior David Terrell (7.8 points, 5.9 rebounds), junior Darrick Thomas (6.3 points, 5.9 rebounds) and junior Thomas Colbert (3.8 points, 4.9 rebounds) split time in the front court and are the key ingredients in helping MSU to a +7.2 rebounding edge. The quartet combines to shoot 56.6 percent from the field (103-of-182) with Thomas (.643), Terrell (.569) and Logan (.556) all ranking among conference leaders in individual field goal percentage.

ABOUT COACH MAC Grant McCasland is in his second year at the helm and is coming off of the most successful season in Midwestern State history. McCasland garnered NABC South Central Region and Lone Star Conference South Division Coach of the Year honors after leading the Mustangs to a 31-3 mark, a second-straight LSC title, a South Central Region championship and to the NCAA Division II Elite for the first time in program history. McCasland has already amassed a 40-4 mark as a four-year collegiate coach after a more than stellar run at Midland College where he led the Chaps to a 143-32 record in five seasons including an NJCAA national championship in 2007 and a runner-up showing in 2009.

About the Evangels

Mid-America Christian comes into Thursday's contest on a roll as the Evangels have won four straight games after opening the season with a 2-4 mark.

MACU bounced back from three consecutive countable losses to Oklahoma Wesleyan, Oklahoma City and Lubbock Christian with victories over Wayland Baptist, Oklahoma City and Hastings at home and a road win over Haskell Indian Nations.

The Evangels have tabbed the contest against the Mustangs as their third exhibition contest of the season which has also included setbacks to LSC members Central Oklahoma (95-75) and Southwestern Oklahoma (74-61) on Nov. 19-20 in Weatherford.

Mid-America Christian is under the tutelage of Willie Holley who is in his 37th season at the helm. Holley has served as the athletic director since 1973 while earning NCCAA Division II Coach of the Year honors four times (1985, 1995, 2000 and 2004) and leading the program to an NCCAA national championship in 2007.

The Evangels are in the fourth season as a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference.

About the Series

Midwestern State and Mid-America Christian meet for the first time on the hardwood Thursday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

But MSU is no stranger to the current membership of the Sooner Athletic Conference.

The Mustangs, a former long-time member of the NAIA, has a 157-91 record (.633) against the league's currently membership including Lubbock Christian (28-8), Northwestern Oklahoma (3-0), Oklahoma Baptist (8-6), Oklahoma Christian (21-11), Oklahoma City (1-17), Science & Arts of Okla. (11-7), Southern Nazarene (19-5) and Wayland Baptist (66-37).

The will mark just the fourth meeting between MSU and a SAC member since the Mustangs became a full-fledged NCAA Division II member in 1997-98. Midwestern defeated Wayland Baptist 72-71 in Stephenville on Nov. 28, 2003, beat Southern Nazarene 92-90 on Dec. 30, 2006 and upended Northwestern Oklahoma 86-69 last month at Ligon Coliseum.

-- 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