TIPOFF
Midwestern State battles Texas A&M-Commerce in its Lone Star Conference opener Saturday afternoon in Commerce. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. from the A&M-Commerce Fieldhouse.
 

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Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Commerce
Saturday, Jan. 4 | 6 p.m.
A&M-Commerce Fieldhouse | Commerce, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (8-4, 0-0 LSC); Texas A&M-Commerce (11-1, 0-0 LSC)
Live Video: None
Live Audio: MSUMustangs.com  
Live Stats: LionAthletics.com  
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Texas A&M-Commerce recovered from its lone loss of the season by taking its last three games before the winter break to improve to 11-1 on the season. The Lions are 6-1 in games decided by six points or less with an unlike setback at NAIA Northwood (Texas). Junior transfer LaDon Carnegie (Odessa College) paces four A&M-Commerce players averaging in double figures at 15.1 points and 6.4 rebounds a game. The 6-6 guard from Grand Rapids, Mich. shoots 47 percent from the floor while knocking down 1.4 treys per game. Senior guard Tyrie Wooten pitches in 12.4 points per game to go along with 2.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest while shooting 44 percent from the field with 1.7 treys per contest. Senior guard Devondrick Walker, another perimeter threat, scores 11.4 points and while pulling down 2.9 boards a game knocking down 1.7 3-pointers a game. Senior guard Kameron Price adds 11.3 points and 4.5 rebounds a game. Junior center Christian Macauley (9.9 points, 8.3 rebounds), freshman guard De'Andre Carson (8.9 points, 3.4 assists) and senior forward Kenny Brown (8.5 points, 5.8 rebounds) are the other top scoring threats for a deep A&M-Commerce squad. The Lions ranks second in the LSC with 87.5 points per game.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Commerce meet for the 80th time on the hardwood Saturday afternoon in Commerce. The Mustangs own a 48-31 advantage in the series that dates back to the 1947-48 season, but are 16-20 against the Lions in Commerce. MSU has won 12 of the last 13 games dating back to the 2005-06 season with A&M-Commerce's lone victory coming by a 74-66 count on Jan. 9, 2013 at the A&M-C Fieldhouse.
 
LAST TIME OUT VS. TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE
Kevin Grayer erupted for a career-high 33 points to lift Midwestern State to a 92-84 win over Texas A&M-Commerce in the opening round of the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament on March 6, 2013 in Allen, Texas. It was the third straight year the Mustangs eliminated A&M-Commerce in the opening round of LSC tournament play. Junior forward Derek Kaster pitched 18 points and six rebounds in 19 minutes off of the bench, while sophomore guard Keith Spellman had 11. Preston Whitley paced the Lions with 19 points including four 3-pointers off of the bench while Andrew Davis notched a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
 

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ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
Midwestern State has dropped consecutive games for the second time this season after falling to Oklahoma Wesleyan 80-74 Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs enter Lone Star Conference play with an 8-4 record. Senior guard Monzaigo Williams paces the MSU attack averaging 17.1 points and 4.3 assists per game while connecting at a 45.3-percent clip from the field and 42.4 percent from beyond the arc (25-of-59). Senior guard DeJuan Plummer is the only other MSU player scoring in double figures at 12.2 points a game. Junior forward Xavier Blackburn (8.4 points, 5.8 rebounds), senior forward Eddie D'Haiti (8.1 points, 4.4 rebounds), senior guard Cam Adderley (7.6 points, 5.3 rebounds) and senior forward Derek Kaster (7.5 points, 4.6 rebounds) add to the Mustangs' offensive depth supplemented by junior Derrell Gibbs (4.3 points, 3.6 rebounds) and Tavarion Nix (4.0 points, 4.4 rebounds). MSU averages 73.2 points a game and allows 67.2.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Oklahoma Wesleyan connected on nine 3-pointers to snap Midwestern State's 48-game winning streak against non-NCAA Division I/II competition dating back to 1997 by an 80-74 margin. OKWU's Tyler Woods ripped the nets for a game-high 22 points as he and Steve Cooks (14 points, 7 rebounds) buried four 3-pointers each. Junior forward Xavier Blackburn notched his first double-double of the season with 17 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Mustangs, while senior guard DeJuan Plummer chipped in 15 points off of the bench.
 
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 140-36 mark (.795) 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.
 
MUSTANGS IN LSC OPENERS
For the fifth straight year, Midwestern State hits the road for its Lone Star Conference opener. The Mustangs are 9-8 in league lid lifters since joining the conference prior to the 1996-97 season. Midwestern is 6-6 in LSC openers on the road, but claimed wins at Texas A&M-Commerce (65-53 on 11/30/11) and Incarnate Word (74-69 on 11/29/12) in each of the last two seasons. It's interesting to note, MSU will begin league play on the road for the 13th time in its 18 seasons of play in the LSC. The Mustangs are 2-1 in LSC openers against Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
MSU UNDER NELSON HAGGERTY
Nelson Haggerty is in his third year as head coach of the Mustangs. He boasts a 59-17 mark (.776) 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 remained at No. 19 for the second consecutive reporting period in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches' Top 25 released prior to the Christmas Break. The Mustangs have carried a national ranking for each of the six NABC polls this season reaching as high as No. 6. MSU has carried a national ranking at some point during each of the last five seasons.
 
IN THE LONE STAR CONFERENCE
- Tarleton State is off to a 10-0 start and is one of 15 remaining unbeaten teams in NCAA Division II coming out of the break. The Texans rolled to wins over Central Washington (75-71) and No. 6-ranked Western Washington (86-69) at the South Point Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas. TSU returns to action Saturday against South Dakota Mines.
- Texas A&M-Commerce (11-1) has won three straight since suffering its lone loss of the season at NAIA Northwood (Texas) (75-73). The Lions welcome Midwestern State to open LSC play Saturday in Commerce.
- Angelo State (10-2) rolled off 10 consecutive wins at the start of Chris Beard's tenure at the helm of the Rams before taking losses at Arkansas Tech (74-64) and Arkansas-Monticello (90-81) heading into the break. ASU opens league play next Wednesday at Tarleton State.
- West Texas A&M (6-4) had a three-game winning streak snapped at Pittsburg State (Kan.) on Dec. 18. Still, the Buffs have won six of their last eight. WT takes on Hillsdale Baptist (Okla.) Friday in Canyon before welcoming Midwestern State for its LSC lid lifter Wednesday night.
- Cameron (5-5) evened its pre-break mark by claiming an 89-53 win over Southwestern Adventist (Texas) on Dec. 21. The Aggies take on South Dakota Mines on Sunday before opening LSC play next Wednesday at Eastern New Mexico.
- Eastern New Mexico (5-5) evened its season record with a 68-63 New Year's Day win over South Dakota Mines and faces Johnson & Wales Thursday night. The Hounds open LSC play at home next Wednesday against Cameron.
- Texas A&M-Kingsville (5-7) snapped a three-game losing streak by claiming wins over Schreiner (Texas) and Texas Lutheran heading into the break. The Javelinas open LSC play next Wednesday at Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
THREE...DOT...THOUGHTS...
Midwestern State has lost consecutive games twice in the same season for the first time since 2009-10.... The last time the Mustangs lost three consecutive games was early in the 2008-09 season... MSU ranks second in the Lone Star Conference in scoring defense allowing 67.2 points per game, but are seventh in scoring offense with 73.2 points per game... The Mustangs top the LSC with 14.9 offensive rebounds per game... Midwestern has shot below 40 percent from the field in three of its last four games after shooting better than 40 percent in seven of its first eight contests... MSU has out-rebounded the opposition in eight of 12 games this season... MSU committed fewer than 10 turnovers for the fourth time this season with eight Wednesday night against Oklahoma Wesleyan... Senior guard Monzaigo Williams has scored in double figures in each of his last 12 games dating back to last season... Williams has hit at least one 3-pointer in each game this season including a career-best six against Northwest Missouri State... Senior forward Eddie D'Haiti notched a season-high four steals Wednesday against Oklahoma Wesleyan... Senior guard DeJuan Plummer poured in 15 points in 29 minutes off of the bench Wednesday against Oklahoma Wesleyan... Plummer has scored in double figures nine times this season -- all in a reserve role... Junior forward Tavarion Nix connected on 5-of-6 shots from the field to finish with a season-high 11 points while pulling down seven rebounds in 19 minutes Wednesday against Oklahoma Wesleyan... Junior guard Derrell Gibbs has not committed a turnover while playing in 55 minutes over the last two games... Gibbs has committed just three turnovers this season in 321 minutes of court times. That's one every 107 minutes of playing time... Junior forward Xavier Blackburn notched career highs with 17 points and 16 rebounds Wednesday against Oklahoma Wesleyan. It was his first double-double as a Mustang... Junior forward Derek Kaster scored five points in 5 minutes off of the bench Wednesday against Oklahoma Wesleyan... Kaster has hit 5 of his 11 3-pointers this season (.455)... Senior guard Cam Adderley scored four points Wednesday against Oklahoma Wesleyan but went for season highs with nine rebounds and three assists before fouling out in 30 minutes of action...
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Midwestern State continues on the road to face rival West Texas A&M Wednesday night in Canyon. The continuation of the Highway 287 Challenge Cup series tips off at 7:30 p.m. at First United Bank Center.