Midwestern State vs. Science & Arts (Okla.)
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014 | 7 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (1-1); Science & Arts (1-3)
Video: MSUMustangs.com  
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM
Audio: MSUMustangs.com 
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com 
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State takes on Science & Arts (Okla.) in its home opener Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE DROVERS
- Science & Arts (Okla.) faces its third consecutive NCAA Division II opponent Wednesday night against Midwestern State.
- The Drovers claimed a 62-58 win over Northwestern Oklahoma in Chickasha before falling 97-81 Saturday night at Cameron.
- Senior guard Ed'Lexus Collier leads a trio of USAO players in doubles figures at 17.5 points per game. He is coming off a season high 26-point effort Saturday against Cameron.
- Junior guard David Tucker, Jr. averages 12.5 points per game while shooting 44.4 percent from the field.
- Senior forward Jerry Coriolan drops in 12.3 points per game and has scored in double figures in each of his last three games including a pair of 15-point efforts.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State meets Science & Arts (Okla.) for the 21st time on the hardwood Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- The Mustangs own a 13-7 advantage in the series which dates back to the 1976-77 season.
- MSU is 8-3 all time against the Drovers at D.L. Ligon Coliseum and has won the last three meetings between the squads -- all in Wichita Falls.
- Midwestern rolled to wins of 89-71 in 2011-12 and 73-65 in 2013-14. It was the first time the Mustangs and Drovers tangled since the 1996-97 campaign.
- USAO last win in Wichita Falls came by a 77-69 count on Feb. 22, 1994. MSU has won the last four under the dome.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State split a pair of games at the season opening Al Kaly Shriners Classic in Pueblo, Colo.
- The Mustangs claimed a 77-63 win over Western State Colorado before dropping an 89-76 decision to Colorado State-Pueblo.
- Junior guard Bretson McNeal (Minneapolis, Minn. / DeLaSalle HS (North Dakota State Science)) earned all-tournament honors after averaging 22 points per game at the Al Kaly Classic.
- Senior forward Xavier Blackburn (Verdunville, La. / St. Thomas More HS (North Dakota State Science)) also gained all-tournament honors after averaging 14 points and nine rebounds per game.
- McNeal leads the LSC in scoring at 22.0 points per contest including three 3-point makes per game while hitting 51.5 percent of his shots from the field.
- Blackburn is shooting 52.2 percent from the field and rates fourth in the LSC in rebounding at 9.0 per game.
- Senior forward Tavarion Nix (Havelock, N.C. / Havelock HS (Redlands CC)) scored 10 points to go along with five rebounds and two steals in 13 minutes Friday against Western State Colorado.
- Junior guard Hershell Grant (Washington, D.C. / Roosevelt HS (Clarendon College)) notched 12 points and six rebounds in 26 minutes off of the bench Saturday against Colorado State-Pueblo.
 
 
THE HAGGERTY ERA
- Nelson Haggerty enters his fourth season at the helm for Midwestern State as one of the top young coaches in college basketball.
- Haggerty boasts a 76-22 mark (.776) leading the Mustangs to Lone Star Conference championships in each of his three seasons as head coach.
- Haggerty earned NABC South Central Region and Lone Star Conference coach of the year honors in his rookie season of 2011-12 piloting the Mustangs to their third consecutive Elite Eight showing.
- With Haggerty on the bench (including two seasons as top assistant), MSU has advanced to three Elite Eights (2010, 2011, 2012) and to the NCAA Division II postseason five consecutive years.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State welcomes Colorado State-Pueblo to D.L. Ligon Coliseum Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. The Mustangs look to avenge an 89-76 loss to the Thunderwolves last weekend in Pueblo.