TIPOFF
Midwestern State hits the road to take on Angelo State in a Lone Star Conference tilt Wednesday night at Junell Center/Stephens Arena. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.
 

---

Midwestern State vs. Angelo State
Wednesday, Jan. 22 | 8 p.m.
Junell Center/Stephen Arena | San Angelo, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (11-5, 3-1 LSC); Angelo State (12-4, 2-2 LSC)
Live Video: AngeloSports.com  
Live Audio: MSUMustangs.com  
Live Stats: AngeloSports.com   
On the Air: 95.5 ESPN Wichita Falls
Season Stat Pack: PDF 
LSC Only Stat Pack: PDF  
Career Stat Pack: PDF 
 
SCOUTING THE RAMS
Angelo State has dominated the opposition by an average margin of 15 points of game while building an 8-0 record thus far this season on its home court at Junell Center/Stephens Arena. That means the Rams are in search of their 10th consecutive home victory Wednesday night against Midwestern State. Overall, ASU is 2-2 in countable games coming out of the Christmas break including road losses at Tarleton State and Eastern New Mexico, but took home victories over Texas A&M-Commerce and West Texas A&M in between the setbacks. Senior guard/forward Kenny Williams comes into the contest as the Lone Star Conference top scoring threat at 18.9 points per game. The 6-7 transfer from McMurry shoots 48.7 percent from the field and works his way to the charity stripe on an average of 4.8 times per game (59-for-77 / 76.6 percent). He also ranks as the league's No. 2 rebounding at 8.6 boards per game. Senior guard Bryan Hammond adds 10.3 points per game while dishing out 4.0 assists per game (6th in LSC), while junior guard Daniel Skinner (9.1 points, 5.5 rebounds), junior guard Tommy Woolridge (7.4 points, 2.1 rebounds), senior forward Chris Talkington (6.4 points, 2.1 rebounds) and sophomore guard Reggie Sutton (5.3 points, 2.4 rebounds) add to the Rams' scoring depth. Angelo State ranks fourth in the LSC in scoring offense at 74.5 points per game and is fourth in scoring defense allowing 69.0 points per contest.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
Midwestern State and Angelo State meet for the 67th time on the hardwood Wednesday night at Junell Center/Stephens Arena. The Mustangs own a commanding 43-23 edge in the series which dates back to the 1965-66 season and have won four of the last five matchups between the programs. Angelo State is 19-14 all time against MSU in San Angelo but the Mustangs have won seven times in 11 tries at Junell Center/Stephens Arena.
All Time Series: PDF 
 
LAST TIME OUT VS. ANGELO STATE
Reggie Sutton's layup with 19 seconds remaining sealed a 53-50 win for Angelo State over Midwestern State on Feb. 16, 2013 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The loss snapped MSU's six-game winning streak and it was the first victory for ASU under the dome since 1988 -- a span of 20 games. Midwestern State struggled to an a 8-for-21 shooting half to trail by 15 at halftime -- 34-19 -- helping the Rams score 19 points off of 16 turnovers before intermission. The Mustangs battled back to take their only lead of the second half on a Corbin Thomas dunk for a 46-45 edge with 4:08 to play, but Angelo State would score the next six points to re-establish the lead. Thomas paced the Mustangs with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Kevin Grayer pitched in 13 points and grabbed four boards. Dakota Rawls led the Rams with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting.
 

---

ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
 Midwestern State had its three-game winning streak snapped with an 83-81 loss to No. 6 Tarleton State last Wednesday at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. It was the Mustangs' first Lone Star Conference defeat after opening with wins over Texas A&M-Commerce, West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico. Senior guard Monzaigo Williams leads MSU while ranking amongst league leaders in points per game (17.3/3rd), field goal percentage (.479), assists (4.5/4th), steals (1.9/2nd), 3-point field goal percentage (.461/2nd), 3-pointers per game (2.2/4th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3/2nd). Junior forward Xavier Blackburn has come on strong to average 11.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game since he was inserted into the starting lineup eight games ago. Blackburn has been exceptional during LSC play scoring 14.3 points and grabbing 9.3 rebounds a contest. Senior guard DeJuan Plummer continues his double-figure pace off of the bench averaging 12.2 points per game. The senior from Detroit is shooting 45 percent from the floor during conference play and is 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) from the arc. Senior forward Eddie D'Haiti (8.4 points, 4.8 rebounds), senior guard Cam Adderley (7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds) and senior forward Derek Kaster (7.1 points, 4.4 rebounds) add to the MSU scoring depth. The Mustangs rank fifth in the LSC in scoring offense (74.1 points per game) and second in the league in scoring defense (67.1 points per game).
 
LAST TIME OUT
Junior forward Xavier Blackburn poured in a season-high 18 points and completed a double-double with 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to hold off No. 6-ranked Tarleton State as the Texans came away with an 83-81 win last Wednesday at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs out-rebounded TSU by a 43-33 margin and connected on a season-high 11 3-pointers, but the Texans shot 55.2 percent after intermission to overcome 12-point first-half deficit. Senior guard Monzaigo Williams connected on three 3-pointers to finish with 14 points while Eddie D'Haiti and DeJuan Plummer added 13 points each. Chuck Guy paced Tarleton State with 20 points and five assists.
 
MSU UNDER NELSON HAGGERTY
Nelson Haggerty is in his third year as head coach of the Mustangs. He boasts a 62-18 mark (.775) 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. 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.
 
A BEAR ON THE BOARDS
Midwestern State ranks 24th in NCAA Division in total rebounds (668.0) and is 25th in rebound margin (+7.3). Both of those numbers top the Lone Star Conference as the Mustangs also lead the league in offensive rebounds (15.1 per game), offensive rebound percentage (.386) and defensive rebound percentage (.718). MSU has out-rebounded nine of its last 10 opponents by an average of 9.6 rebounds a game. The Mustangs have controlled the rebounding edge in 12 out of 16 games this season and are 9-4 when posting a positive rebound margin.
 
SHOOTING LIGHTS OUT
Midwestern State is coming off its best shooting night from the arc hitting a season-best 11 treys in 21 tries (52.4 percent) Wednesday night against Tarleton State, but the Mustangs are trending positively on their effectiveness from the floor after posting consecutive sub-40 percent efforts in losses to Cal State, San Bernardino and Oklahoma Wesleyan. Over the last four games, MSU is shooting 45.9 percent from the field (113-for-246) and 42.1 percent from the 3-point land (32-of-76) as a team to raise its season averages to 43.5 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from the arc.
 
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 143-37 mark (.794) 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 (15-0, 4-0) remains one of four undefeated teams in NCAA Division II. The Texans, who are off to the best start in the Lonn Reisman era, travel to face West Texas A&M on Wednesday then play host to Eastern New Mexico Saturday at Wisdom Gym in Stephenville.
- Cameron (9-6, 3-1) has its three-game winning streak snapped at Tarleton State on Saturday. The Aggies travel to face Texas A&M-Kingsville on Wednesday before returning to Lawton to face Angelo State on Saturday.
- Angelo State (12-4, 2-2) remains unbeaten at Junell Center/Stephens Arena this season (8-0). The Rams look to extend their home court unbeaten streak to 10 Wednesday against Midwestern State. ASU travels to Lawton to take on Cameron on Saturday.
- Eastern New Mexico (8-7, 2-2) battled to a pair of four-point wins last week taking decisions at Texas A&M-Kingsville (82-78) and Angelo State (72-68/OT). The 'Hounds host Texas A&M-Commerce on Wednesday before traveling to take on league-leading Tarleton State on Saturday.
- Texas A&M-Commerce (12-4, 1-3) dropped two close games on the road last week falling to Angelo State (67-65) and Cameron (69-66). The Lions hit the road to face Eastern New Mexico on Wednesday before playing host to West Texas A&M Saturday at The Fieldhouse.
- West Texas A&M (8-7, 1-3) snapped a three-game skid by claiming its first conference win 82-59 over Texas A&M-Kingsville Saturday in Canyon. The Buffs play host to Tarleton State on Wednesday before traveling to face Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday.
- Texas A&M-Kingsville (5-11, 0-4) has opened LSC play with four-straight losses falling to Texas A&M-Commerce (68-66), Tarleton State (103-84), Eastern New Mexico (82-78) and West Texas A&M (82-59). The Hoggies play host to Cameron on Wednesday before traveling to play Midwestern State Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
WITH A WIN, MIDWESTERN STATE WOULD...
... improve to 12-5 on the season.
... improve to 4-1 in Lone Star Conference play.
... improve to 44-23 all time against Angelo State.
... improve to 15-19 all time on the road against Angelo State.
... improve to 8-4 all time against the Rams at Junell Center/Stephens Arena.
... win for the third straight year in San Angelo -- last lost 82-81 (OT) on 1/12/11.
... improve to 144-37 (.796) since the start of the 2008-09 season.
... improve to 63-18 under head coach Nelson Haggerty.
... improve to 8-4 on Jan. 22.
 
WITH A LOSS, MIDWESTERN STATE WOULD...
... fall to 11-6 on the season.
... fall to 3-2 in Lone Star Conference play.
... lose consecutive games three times in one season for first time since 2007-08.
... fall to 42-22 all time against Angelo State.
... fall to 14-20 all time on the road against Angelo State.
... fall to 7-5 all time against the Rams at Junell Center/Stephens Arena.
... drop consecutive games to Angelo State for first time since 2006-07/2007-08 seasons.
... fall to 143-38 (.790) since the start of the 2008-09 season.
... fall to 62-19 under head coach Nelson Haggerty.
... fall to 7-5 on Jan. 22.
 
THREE...DOT...THOUGHTS...
Midwestern State dropped its first Lone Star Conference game of the season falling 83-81 to No. 6 Tarleton State Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum... The loss is MSU's second home setback this season and is the first time since 2006-07 and 2007-08 season that the Mustangs have lost 2 home games in consecutive seasons... MSU is 73-6 (.924) at D.L. Ligon Coliseum since the start of the 2008-09 season... The Mustangs are tied for second place with Cameron -- a game back from Tarleton State for the LSC lead... MSU took over the LSC rebound margin lead by thumping Tarleton State on the glass 43-33 -- good for a 23-17 edge in second-chance points but defensively yielded a 50 percent shooting night for the second time this season -- the other came against No. 9-ranked Cal State, San Bernardino... The Mustangs lead the league in rebounding margin (+7.3), defensive rebound percentage (.718), offensive rebound percentage (.386), offensive rebounds per game (15.1) and total rebounds per game (41.8)... Senior guard Monzaigo Williams ranks third in the LSC in scoring (17.3 ppg), 14th in field goal percentage (.479), fourth in assists (4.5), second in steals (1.9), second in 3-point percentage (.461), fourth in 3-point makes per game (2.2) and second in assist/turnover ratio (2.3)... Williams has scored in double figures in each of his last 17 games dating back to last season... Williams has connected on 9-of-13 from 3-point range (.692) over his last three outings and has hit a trey in each game this season... Junior forward Xavier Blackburn is averaging 11.8 points and 8.3 rebounds a game while shooting 47.6 percent from the field (30-of-63) since being inserted into the starting lineup eight games ago... Blackburn is averaging 10.6 rebounds a game over his last five outings to raise his season rebounding average to 6.6 which ranks fifth in the Lone Star Conference... Blackburn notched his season double-double of the season finishing with a season-high 18 points to go along with 10 rebounds while going 5-for-11 with a pair of 3-pointers Wednesday against Tarleton State... Senior forward Eddie D'Haiti drained a career-high three 3-pointers on his way to a season-high 13 points to go along with six rebounds Wednesday night against Tarleton State... Senior guard DeJuan Plummer knocked down a pair of treys to finish with 13 points off of the bench Wednesday night against Tarleton State... Plummer has scored 10-or-more points in 12 games as a reserve this season... Junior guard Kevin Wagner set season highs with six points and five assists in 13 minutes Wednesday against Tarleton State... Junior guard Derrell Gibbs delivered one of best all-around games as a collegian Wednesday against Tarleton State finishing with eight points, 10 rebounds and five assists...
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Midwestern State returns to D.L. Ligon Coliseum to take on Texas A&M-Kingsville Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.