TIPOFF
Midwestern State plays host to Texas A&M-Kingsville in a Lone Star Conference contest Saturday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
 

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Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville
Saturday, Jan. 25 | 6 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (11-6, 3-2 LSC); Texas A&M-Kingsville (6-11, 1-4 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 JAVELINAS
Texas A&M-Kingsville snapped a four-game skid with a 59-57 win over Cameron Wednesday night at home, but the Hoggies have struggled away from Steinke Center. TAMUK has lost its last four road contests against Division II competition and is 2-6 against the same competition outside of Kingsville this season. Senior guard Rashad Basey comes in as the LSC's No. 2 scoring threat averaging 18.1 points per game and is shooting 47.5 percent from the field. Basey leads a trio of Hoggies averaging in double figures joined by junior guard Ronald Scott (11.1 points, 4.1 assists) and junior forward Jordan Jahr (10.1 points, 6.1 rebounds). Junior guard Ta'Quan McDew (9.7 points, 3.1 rebounds), junior guard Adonis Bailey (8.7 points, 3.3 rebounds) and junior forward Irvin Hollinger (7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds) add scoring punch to TAMUK's primarily eight-man rotation. The Javelinas score 72.1 points per game (6th in the LSC) and allow a league high 77.8.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Kingsville meet for the 39th time on the hardwood Saturday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs control a commanding 27-11 edge in the series which dates back to the 1976-77 season. MSU has won its last 11 meetings against the Javelinas with TAMUK's last win coming by a 78-63 count on Feb. 16, 2008. The Mustangs are 13-5 all time against the Hoggies at D.L. Ligon Coliseum and have won the last five meetings under the dome.
All Time Series: PDF  
 
LAST TIME OUT VS. TEXAS A&M-KINGSVILLE
Junior guard Cam Adderley knocked down three treys on his way to a game-high 17 points while Derek Kaster connected on 6-of-8 shots from the field to finish with 14 points and eight rebounds in Midwestern State's 79-59 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Feb. 2, 2013 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The hot-shooting Mustangs shot 62.1 percent in the opening half to race out to a 26-point halftime advantage and dominated the rebounding battle by a 44-20 margin to coast to victory. Rashod Basey led TAMUK with 14 points and five assists while Dwight Taylor added 13 points.
 

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ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
Midwestern State looks to rebound from a two-game skid Saturday night against Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Mustangs have lost consecutive games three times in a season for the first time since 2008-09. Senior guard Monzaigo Williams leads the Mustangs ranking fourth in the Lone Star Conference in scoring (16.6 ppg), fourth in assists per game (4.3), second in steals per game (1.8), second in 3-point field goal percentage (.449) and fourth in 3-pointers made per game (2.1). Junior forward Xavier Blackburn has come on strong to average 12.6 points and 9.0 rebounds a game in LSC play. Blackburn, who boasts season averages of 9.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest, rates fifth in the league in rebounding and ninth in field goal percentage (49.6). Senior guard DeJuan Plummer continues his solid play off of the bench scoring 11.9 points a game while shooting 40.8 percent from the field. Plummer has knocked 11 of his 22 shots from the arc in league play. Senior Eddie D'Haiti carries season averages of 8.9 points and 4.9 rebounds a game, but has been even better in LSC play. The 6-8 forward connected on three 3-pointers in each of his last two games and is 8-of-13 (61.5 percent) from the arc in five LSC contests. Senior guard Cam Adderley (7.5 points, 5.1 rebounds) and senior forward Derek Kaster (6.7 points, 4.1 rebounds) continue to play well for the Mustangs, while senior guard JaMichael Rivers scored six points in his first action of the season Wednesday at Angelo State after suffering a broken bone in his right foot in MSU's first exhibition game this season.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Midwestern State senior forward Eddie D'Haiti knocked down three treys on his way to a season-high 17 points Wednesday night at Junell Center/Stephens Arena, but it wasn't enough. Angelo State got an 18-point, 9-rebound from Kenny Williams to spark the Rams to an 83-68 win. Tommy Woolridge bombed in three 3-pointers -- all three during a 14-5 spurt midway through  the first half as ASU established a double-figure lead going into intermission. Woolridge joined fellow reserve Chantz Chambers with 12 points off of the bench.
 
MSU UNDER NELSON HAGGERTY
Nelson Haggerty is in his third year as head coach of the Mustangs. He boasts a 62-19 mark (.765) 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.
 
HITTING THE GLASS
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 (.383) and defensive rebound percentage (.722). MSU has out-rebounded 10 of its last 11 opponents by an average of 9.3 rebounds a game. The Mustangs have controlled the rebounding edge in 13 out of 17 games this season and are 9-5 when posting a positive rebound margin.
 
AT THE HALF
Midwestern State has trailed at the half just four times this season and are 2-2 in those games. The Mustangs were able to overcome 34-31 deficit for a 68-60 win in their season opener at Southwestern Oklahoma and raced past West Texas A&M 76-70 after trailing by two at the break. Midwestern was unable to overcome double-figure deficits in losses to California State, San Bernardino (44-26 at the half) and Angelo State (41-31 at the half). Conversely, the Mustangs are 9-4 when holding the halftime edge and led by double figures six times.
 
SHOOTING 44
Midwestern State has lost each game this season when the opposition shoots at least 44 percent as a team from the field. The Mustangs have allowed matching season highs of 50 percentage in losses to California State, San Bernardino (29-for-58), Tarleton State (28-for-56) and Angelo State (28-for-56). Harding (Ark.) was 46.2 percent from the field in a 74-70 setback for MSU while Oklahoma Wesleyan booked a 44.8 field goal percentage to beat the Mustangs 80-74. Conversely, Midwestern is 5-0 in games it shoots 45 percent or better posting a season-high percentage of 50.8 against West Texas A&M.
 
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 143-38 mark (.790) 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 (5-0) owns a two-game lead at the top of the LSC as four teams are tied at 3-2 -- Midwestern State, Angelo State, Cameron and Eastern New Mexico -- while three others are at 1-4 -- Texas A&M-Commerce, West Texas A&M and Texas A&M-Kingsville.
- Tarleton State (16-0, 5-0) is one of five remaining unbeaten teams in NCAA Division II. The Texans play host to Eastern New Mexico Saturday night at Wisdom Gym.
- Angelo State (13-4, 3-2) remained perfect at home (9-0) taking an 83-68 win over Midwestern State Wednesday night at Junell Center. The Rams hits the road to face Cameron Saturday afternoon in Lawton.
- Cameron (9-7, 3-2) dropped its second-straight road decision falling 59-57 Wednesday at Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Aggies return home to face Angelo State Saturday in Lawton.
- Eastern New Mexico (9-7, 3-2) takes a three-game winning streak (Texas A&M-Kingsville, Angelo State, Texas A&M-Commerce) into a showdown with Tarleton State Saturday night in Stephenville.
- Texas A&M-Commerce (12-5, 1-4) hopes to return home to snap a three-game skid against West Texas A&M Saturday at The Fieldhouse. The Lions are 1-4 -- all league games -- since returning from the Christmas break.
- West Texas A&M (8-8, 1-4) is coming off of an 87-63 loss to LSC-leading Tarleton State and head to Commerce to take on the Lions Saturday afternoon.
- Texas A&M-Kingsville (6-11, 1-4) snapped a four-game slide by edging Cameron 59-57 Wednesday at Steinke Center. The Hoggies start a three-game road swing Saturday at Midwestern State before heading to Angelo State and Eastern New Mexico next week.
 
WITH A WIN, MIDWESTERN STATE WOULD...
... improve to 12-6 on the season.
... improve to 4-2 in Lone Star Conference play.
... improve to 28-11 all time against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
... improve to 14-5 all time against the Javelinas at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
... claim its 12th straight win over Texas A&M-Kingsville -- last lost 78-63 on 2/16/08.
... win for the sixth straight time vs. TAMUK under dome -- last lost 82-72 on 1/19/08.
... improve to 144-38 (.791) since the start of the 2008-09 season.
... improve to 63-19 (.768) under head coach Nelson Haggerty.
... improve to 17-4 on Jan. 25.
 
WITH A LOSS, MIDWESTERN STATE WOULD...
... fall to 11-7 on the season.
... fall to 3-3 in Lone Star Conference play.
... lose three consecutive games for first time since 11/25-12/15 of 2008.
... lose three straight conference games for first time since 1/16-1/23 of 2008.
... fall to 27-12 all time against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
... fall to 13-6 all time against the Javelinas at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
... lose to Texas A&M-Kingsville for first time since 2/16/08 (78-63) -- a span of 11 games.
... fall to the Javelinas at Ligon Coliseum for the first time since 1/19/08 -- a span of 5 games.
... fall to 143-39 (.786) since the start of the 2008-09 season.
... fall to 62-20 (.756) under head coach Nelson Haggerty.
... fall to 16-5 on Jan. 25.
 
THREE...DOT...THOUGHTS...
Midwestern State has suffered consecutive Lone Star Conference losses for the first time since dropping decisions to No. 23 West Texas A&M (68-56) and No. 25 Tarleton State (48-47) during the 2010-11 season... The Mustangs allowed an identical .500 field goal percentage (28-of-56) in losses to  Tarleton State and Angelo State the last two times out... MSU is 0-5 this season when the opposition shoots 45 percent or better from the field... Midwestern has out-rebounded its last seven opponents by an average of 9.4 boards a game... The Mustangs are 8-5 when they win the rebounding battle and 3-1 when they don't... Senior guard Monzaigo Williams was held to a season-low seven points Wednesday night at Angelo State. It was the first time he failed to score in double figures this season... Senior forward Eddie D'Haiti has shot 62.5 percent from the field (15-of-24) over the last three games... D'Haiti matched career highs with three treys in each of his last two games going 6-of-8 from the arc... D'Haiti matched a career-high with 17 points Wednesday at Angelo State. He also had 17 points earlier this season against Science & Arts (Okla.)... Junior forward Xavier Blackburn continued to dominate the glass finishing with a team-high eight rebound Wednesday night at Angelo State... Blackburn has grabbed at least seven rebounds in each of his last six games including three games of 10 or more... Blackburn is averaging 12.6 points and 9.0 rebounds a game during league play ranking 11th and 2nd in the LSC, respectively... Senior guard JaMichael Rivers hit his first shot of the season -- a trey from the corner -- Wednesday night at Angelo State to finish with six points in his return from a foot injury he suffered in MSU's exhibition opener against Mid-America Christian (10/30)... Senior guard Cam Adderley has connected on a 3-pointer in each of his last three games...
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Midwestern State is next in action next Saturday when the Mustangs play host to Cameron. The game will air live on CSN Sports Net-Houston and tip at 4:30 p.m.