Box Score

COMMERCE, Texas - Darrick Thomas didn't appear to be having many problems with Texas A&M-Commerce's size here Wednesday night.

The 6-7 senior from Dallas scored MSU's first seven points of the game on his way to a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds in a 65-53 win over the Lions to open Lone Star Conference play.

"It's been our plan (to go inside) because our posts have been playing so well lately," Thomas said. "This was big for us tonight because we haven't won our first conference game in the last three years. We just want to continue the trend."

The Mustangs, who improved to 6-0 on the season, continue on the road with games at Angelo State on Monday, Dec. 12 and Incarnate Word on Wed., Dec. 14.

But definitely got a boost of confidence from the inside punch of Thomas and fellow senior David Terrell, who flushed down four dunks to finish with a team-high 18 points while pulling down 10 rebounds.

"Darrick was great running the floor and really good defensively," MSU coach Nelson Haggerty said. "He had a great game."

The Mustangs pounded the glass for 12 offensive rebounds in the first half leading to 14 second-chance points which greatly aided a 9-0 run as MSU surged to a 16-6 lead on Terrell's three-point play with 12:24 to go in the first half.

MSU would lead by as many as 12 points in the opening half, but allowed Texas A&M-Commerce to pull within eight points when Brad Hambrick connected on four consecutive free throws resulting when Anthony Harris drew consecutive technical fouls with 18:50.

The Lions would pull within 43-38 on Preston Whitley's jumper with 9:59 to play, but Midwestern put the game put the game away with a 16-2 run punctuated by three Terrell jams and would lead by as many as 61-41 with 5:04 to play.

MSU guard Michael Loyd canned a pair of 3-pointers to finish with 13 points, while JaMichael Rivers added seven more.

LSC Preseason Player of the Year Desmond King had 12 points and six rebounds to pace Texas A&M-Commerce, who fell to 2-3 and 0-1.