TIPOFF
Midwestern State and Tarleton State square off for early control at the top of the Lone Star Conference standings Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
 

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Midwestern State vs. Tarleton State
Wednesday, Jan. 15 | 7:30 p.m.
Records: Midwestern State (11-4, 3-0 LSC); Tarleton State (13-0, 2-0 LSC)
Live Video: MSUMustangs.com 
Live Audio: MSUMustangs.com 
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com
On the Air: 95.5 ESPN Wichita Falls
Season Stat Pack: PDF
LSC Only Stat Pack: PDF
Career Stat Pack: PDF
 
SCOUTING THE TEXANS
Tarleton State is one of nine remaining unbeaten teams in NCAA Division II as the Texans bring a 13-0 mark into D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Texans boast the nation's 10th-best scoring offense at 90.4 points per game and have topped the century mark four times this season. TSU pairs the scoring by holding its opposition to 59.7 points per game (3rd in NCAA II) to produce the nation's top scoring margin at +30.8. Senior guard Chuck Guy leads a trio of Texans averaging in double figures at 17.4 points to go along with 6.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds a game. He is shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 35.3 percent (18-of-51) from 3-point range. Senior guard De'Andre Upchurch is Tarleton's top perimeter marksman at 14.5 points per game connecting on 2.5 treys per contest. Junior forward Tashawn Mabry, a 6-6 transfer from Modesto JC, pitches in 10.8 points per game off of the bench, while junior forward Davene Carter (9.5 points, 6.5 rebounds) and junior guard Mohammed Lee (9.2 points, .535 FG%) round out the Texans' top five scoring options. Junior guard Emmanuel Andrews (7.7 points), sophomore guard Michael Hardge (6.6 points), junior forward Damion Clemons (5.9 points, 4.6 rebounds) and senior guard Coleman Furst (5.1 points) round out Tarleton's depth.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
Midwestern State and Tarleton State meet for the 67th time on the hardwood Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs own a 43-23 overall advantage in the series which dates back to the 1961-62 season. The teams split last season's regular season series, but the Texans claimed a 53-50 win in the LSC Postseason Tournament finals in Allen. Midwestern is 24-10 all-time against the Texans in Wichita Falls and 16-10 in games played at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
All Time Series: PDF
 
LAST TIME OUT VS. TARLETON STATE
Coleman Furst's 3-pointer from the left corner with 1:11 to play provided the difference as Tarleton State edged Midwestern State 53-50 in the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament finals on March 9 at the Allen Event Center. MSU senior forward Corbin Thomas paced the Mustangs with 14 points and 12 rebounds while junior forward Eddie D'Haiti added 10 points and three boards. Junior guard Chuck Guy led the Texans with 16 points and dished out five assists.
 

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ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
Midwestern State has won three consecutive games for the third time this season and, for the third straight, the Mustangs are off to a 3-0 start in Lone Star Conference play. Senior guard Monzaigo Williams ranks third in the LSC in scoring at 17.5 points per game and is also third in assists with 4.7 a game. Senior guard DeJuan Plummer scores 12.1 points per game off of the bench, while junior forward Xavier Blackburn has come on strong to average 10.9 points and 8.0 rebounds after being inserted into the starting lineup seven games ago to bring his season averages up to 9.3 points and a team-high 6.4 rebounds. Senior forwards Eddie D'Haiti (8.1 points, 4.7 rebounds), Derek Kaster (7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds) and junior forward Tavarion Nix (3.6 points, 4.0 rebounds) add strength in the paint while senior guard Cam Adderley and junior guard Derrell Gibbs pitch in 7.7 and 4.2 points per game, respectively.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Midwestern State limited Eastern New Mexico to 19.3-percent shooting in a 66-41 win Saturday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. It was the second lowest opponent field goal percentage in program history as the Mustangs held the Greyhounds to their lowest scoring output in series history. Senior guard Cam Adderley emerged from shooting slump hitting 5-of-8 shots from the field with two 3-pointers to lead a group of four MSU players in double figures with a game-high 14 points. Senior guard Monzaigo Williams added 13 points and five assists while seniors Eddie D'Haiti and DeJuan Plummer had 10 points each.
 
MSU UNDER NELSON HAGGERTY
Nelson Haggerty is in his third year as head coach of the Mustangs. He boasts a 62-17 mark (.785) while leading MSU to a pair of Lone Star Conference titles. The Mustangs advanced the Elite Eight in 2012 before falling to Metro State in the South Central Region finals last season. Haggerty served the previous two seasons as the top assistant at Midwestern as the Mustangs rolled to the Elite Eight in each of those campaigns.
 
MSU IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
Midwestern State dropped out of the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Top 25 for the first time this season on Dec. 31, but recovered to receive votes in the latest edition released on Jan. 7. The Mustangs carried a ranking for the first six reporting periods reaching as high as No. 6. MSU has carried a national ranking at some point during each of the last five seasons.
 
GETTING DEFENSIVE
Midwestern State limited Eastern New Mexico to a 19.3-percent shooting night which ranks as the second lowest opponent field goal percentage in program history. The Mustangs also held the Greyhounds to a series low 41 points. It was the third time this season MSU held an opponent to less than 60 points. A year ago this week, Midwestern held Tarleton State to a program-low 16.9 percent from the floor as the Texans managed a program low output of 34 points in a 16-point loss to the Mustangs on Jan. 12, 2013 at Ligon Coliseum.
 
WINNING BATTLE OF THE BOARDS
Midwestern State held the edge on the glass in each of its last five games and eight of the last nine and are 8-3 when it finishes with the rebounding edge. The Mustangs rank second in the Lone Star Conference and 27th in NCAA Division II with a +7.1 rebounding margin while leading the league 14.7 offensive boards. Even more telling, MSU tops the LSC offensive rebound percentage (.379) and is second in defensive percentage (.721). For the season, the Mustangs score 14.9 second chance points per game and allow 9.6.
 
CLOSING OUT THE HALF
Midwestern State has made it a trend of closing first halves strong during its current three-game winning streak. The Mustangs used a 15-5 over a 5-minute stretch at Texas A&M-Commerce to turn a tight 21-21 game into a 36-26 edge with 1:44 to go in the opening stanza. MSU scored 13-straight points to erase a 13-point deficit in a 2 1/2 stretch which included three consecutive treys by Monzaigo Williams last week at West Texas A&M to tie the Buffs at 38-38 with 1:45 to go before intermission. The Mustangs erupted for a 13-3 run Saturday against Eastern New Mexico to spin a tight 23-23 game with 7:19 to play into a 36-26 lead going into halftime.
 
BEST IN TEXAS
Midwestern State has won more games than any other four-year program in the State of Texas since the start of the 2008-09 season. The Mustangs boasts a 143-36 mark (.799) during the stretch which includes five NCAA Division II postseason showings while advancing to the Elite Eight in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Midwestern also claimed Lone Star Conference championships in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013.
 
BLACKBURN TABBED DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK (1/6/14)
Midwestern State junior forward Xavier Blackburn garnered Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for the week of Jan. 6 after averaging 16.0 points and 12.5 rebounds a game. The 6-4 forward from New Iberia, La. recorded his first double-double of the season finishing with 17 points and 16 rebounds against Oklahoma Wesleyan. The rebounds were the second most by an LSC player this season and the most for an MSU player since Corbin Thomas had 18 against Texas A&M-Commerce last February. Blackburn closed the week with a 15-point, 9-rebound effort at A&M-Commerce.
 
BLACKBURN DOES IT AGAIN (1/13/14)
Midwestern State junior forward Xavier Blackburn earned Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second straight week as the Mustangs rolled to victories over West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico. Blackburn snagged a game-high 11 rebounds with two blocks and a steal as the Mustangs limited Eastern New Mexico to a 19.3-percent shooting night on Jan. 11 which ranks as the second lowest opponent shooting percentage in school history. He scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a 67-60 win at West Texas A&M earlier in the week.
 
RED-HOT Z TABBED OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK (1/13/14)
Midwestern State senior guard Monzaigo Williams poured in a game-high 27 points with five 3-pointers to help the Mustangs' to their second straight win over West Texas A&M in Canyon on Jan. 8, 2014. It was the first time in series history MSU claimed consecutive wins on the Buffs' home floor. The Palmdale, Calif. product finished the week with a 13-point, 5-assist, 4-steal effort in just 26 minutes against Eastern New Mexico. For the week, Williams averaged 20 points while shooting 70 percent from the field (14-of-20) and 75 percent from 3-point land (6-of-8) while averaging 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists with five total steals.
 
MSU TAKES TWO STRAIGHT IN CANYON/AMARILLO
Midwestern State claimed its second consecutive victory for the first time in series history with a 76-70 win on Jan. 8. The Mustangs, who rolled to a 55-42 win over the Buffs last season at First United Bank Center, had one win in their first 10 tries at the facility. Midwestern State had never claimed consecutive wins on WT's home court in a series which dates back to the 1947-48 season.
 
IN THE LONE STAR CONFERENCE
- Tarleton State (13-0, 2-0) is one of just seven unbeaten teams remaining in NCAA Division II. The Texans are off to the best start in the Lonn Reisman era after claiming wins over Angelo State (80-54) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (103-84) last week. TSU battles rival Midwestern State on Wednesday before taking on Cameron Saturday night at Wisdom Gym.
- Cameron (8-5, 2-0) is off to a season-best four-game winning streak including victories in its first two LSC contests last week against Eastern New Mexico (59-58) and West Texas A&M (69-68) -- both by single points. The Aggies play host to  Texas A&M-Commerce Wednesday in Lawton before hitting the road to face Tarleton State on Saturday.
- Angelo State (11-3, 1-1) snapped a three-game regular season losing streak including a LSC opening 80-54 setback at Tarleton State with a 67-65 win over Texas A&M-Commerce Sunday afternoon in San Angelo. The Rams take on Eastern New Mexico Saturday in Portales in their lone game this week.
- Texas A&M-Commerce (12-3, 1-2) split a pair of LSC games last week edging Texas A&M-Kingsville 68-66 at home before falling 67-65 Sunday at Angelo State. The Lions have played in eight games with a 5-or-fewer point deficit this season. A&M-Commerce hits the road to take on Cameron Saturday night in Lawton.
- West Texas A&M (7-6, 0-2) dropped its first two LSC games last week falling 76-70 to Midwestern State at home on Wednesday before dropping a 69-68 decision Saturday at Cameron. The Buffs look to rebound Wednesday at Angelo State before returning to First United Bank Center Saturday against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
- Eastern New Mexico (6-7, 0-2) struggled to losses against Cameron (59-58) and Midwestern State (66-41) last week. The Greyhounds return to action Wednesday at Texas A&M-Kingsville before playing host to Angelo State Saturday night in Portales.
- Texas A&M-Kingsville (5-9, 0-2) suffered LSC opening losses to Texas A&M-Commerce (68-66) and Tarleton State (103-84) last week. The Javelinas play host to Eastern New Mexico on Wednesday before taking on West Texas A&M Saturday in Canyon.
 
THREE...DOT...THOUGHTS...
Midwestern State improved to 3-0 in Lone Star Conference play by claiming wins over West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico to improve to 11-4 on the season... The Mustangs' 76-70 win over West Texas A&M in Canyon gave MSU back-to-back road wins for the first time in the series which dates back to the 1946-47 season... Midwestern State limited Eastern New Mexico to a 19.3 percent shooting from the field which is the second lowest opponent field goal percentage in school history... The Mustangs held ENMU to a 19.3 percent from the field which is the lowest opponent field goal percentage since MSU limited Tarleton State to a 16.9 percent shooting night in a 50-34 win on Jan. 12, 2013... MSU held Eastern New Mexico to 41 points which is the lowest scoring output by the Greyhounds in its series history with the Mustangs... MSU shot a season-best 50.8 percent from the field in its 76-70 win Wednesday at West Texas A&M... The Mustangs have controlled the edge on the boards in their last five games and in eight of the last nine... Midwestern opened  LSC play with three straight wins for the third consecutive year...  MSU has outscored its opposition by a 6.7 points in the final eight minutes of the first half of its first three LSC wins over Texas A&M-Commerce, West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico... The Mustangs face their first nationally ranked opponent Wednesday night against Tarleton State... MSU is 29-46 (.387) all time against nationally ranked opposition, but is 5-3 under coach Nelson Haggerty... The Mustangs have eight of their last 12 games against opponents carrying a national ranking including  three wins over Tarleton State... Senior guard Monzaigo Williams connected on 11-of-14 from the field including five 3-pointers to finish with a game-high 27 points Wednesday at West Texas A&M. It was his third game with at least 20 points this season... Williams, who is shooting 45.1 percent from the arc, has connected on a 3-pointer in all 15 games this season... Junior forward Xavier Blackburn is averaging 10.9 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 48.1 percent from the field since he was inserted into the starting lineup seven games ago... Senior guard Cam Adderley broke out of a shooting slump to hit 5-of-8 from the field with two 3-pointers to finish with 14 points and seven rebounds Saturday against Eastern New Mexico...
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Midwestern State enjoys a week off before heading south to take on Angelo State next Wednesday night at Junell Center/Stephens Arena. The Mustangs than play host to Texas A&M-Kingsville the following Saturday at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.