Midwestern State vs. South Dakota Mines
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014 | 7 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (10-3); South Dakota Mines (3-9)
Video: None
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM
Audio: MSUMustangs.com 
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com 
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State closes out non-conference play Wednesday night against South Dakota Mines at D. L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE HARDROCKERS
- South Dakota Mines begins a five-game southern swing Tuesday night at Tarleton State. The Hardrockers take on Midwestern State Wednesday night in Wichita Falls before closing the weeklong trip with games at Eastern New Mexico, Lubbock Christian and University of the Southwest (N.M.).
- South Dakota Mines is 0-3 away from the King Center in Rapid City, S.D. this season.
- The Hardrockers snapped a four-game skid by closing out their pre-holiday slate with a sound 97-71 win over Eastern New Mexico on Dec. 19 in Rapid City.
- Sophomore forward Konor Kulas paces the Hardrocker attack averaging 16.3 points per game while shooting 52.5 percent from the field while also pulling down a team-high 8.3 rebounds per game.
- Freshman guard Brian Orr chips in 7.7 points per game connecting at a 42.1-percent clip from 3-point range, while freshman guard Jaisean Jackson pitched in 7.5 points and 2.0 assists per contest.
- Jason Henry is in his 10th season at the helm of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology men's basketball program sporting a 126-147 record.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State claimed its only other meeting against South Dakota Mines taking an 83-57 win over the Hardrockers earlier this month at King Center in Rapid City.
 
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST SOUTH DAKOTA MINES
- Midwestern State junior guard Bretson McNeal knocked down four 3-pointers on his way to 18 points while senior forward Abiodun Adegoke ripped down a career-high 14 rebounds to lead the Mustangs to an 83-57 win over South Dakota Mines on Dec. 18 in Rapid City.
- The game came at the end of an 8-day, 4,564-mile trip in which MSU claimed victories at Nova Southeastern in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Lynn in Boca  Raton, Fla. before heading to the upper Midwest.
- Senior guard Derrell Gibbs pitched in 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while junior guard Hershell Grant added 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting.
- Sophomore forward Konor Kulas and freshman guard Jaisean Jackson had 16 points each to pace the Hardrockers.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State extended its current winning streak to six games with a 78-65 win over Saint Gregory's (Okla.) on Dec. 21. It's the longest winning streak since the Mustangs reeled off 11 consecutive wins from Jan. 25-March 7, 2014.
- MSU has won five of the six games by double figures with an average margin of victory of 22.8 points per game.
- The Mustangs have outrebounded each of its last six opponents by at least 10 boards with an average rebound margin of 21.2.
- MSU leads NCAA Division II in total rebounds (554.0) and is 10th rebound margin at 10.7.
- The Mustangs rank high on the charts in many defensive as MSU is fifth in total blocks (68.0), fourth in 3-point field goal defense (27.2) and 18th in total steals (110.0).
- Senior guard Bretson McNeal (Minneapolis, Minn. / DeLaSalle HS (North Dakota State Science)) scored in double figures in each of the nine games in which he has played more than one minute. He left the game against Missouri Southern after suffering a leg injury on the opening possession. He would miss nearly four complete games.
- McNeal leads the team scoring 16.5 points per game while shooting 50.5 percent from the field and 47.5 percent from 3-point range. He has scored 20-or-more points three times this season including a season-high 27 against Lynn (Fla.) on Dec. 15, 2014.
- McNeal has knocked down 13 of his last 26 shots from the arc over his last three games including four each against Lynn and South Dakota Mines before going for five against St. Gregory's.
- Junior guard Hershell Grant (Washington, D.C. / Roosevelt HS (Clarendon College))is averaging 11 points and five rebounds over his last four games including four consecutive outings with 10-or-more points. The tough-minded defender has scored a season-high 12 points four times this season (Colorado State-Pueblo, Science & Arts (Okla.), Lynn (Fla.) and St. Gregory's (Okla.)).
- Sophomore forward Trevor Fuller (Dallas, Texas / Episcopal School (San Diego)) registered his first collegiate double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds the last time out against St. Gregory's -- both marks stand as career highs.
- Fuller also notched a season-high six blocked shots against St. Gregory's to up his season average to 1.75 blocks per game ranking 47th in NCAA Division II. Fuller's 21 total blocks rank 26 nationally.
- Fuller has made his last 12 shots from the field and is 22-of-23 (.957) during MSU's six-game winning streak. He is shooting 84.8 percent from the field this season (28-of-33).
- Senior forward Xavier Blackburn (Verdunville, La. / St. Thomas More HS (North Dakota State Science)) battled his way to the charity stripe 16 times of the last three games connecting 12 times (75 percent) to up his season free three percentage to 61.5. The preseason All-America selection has scored in double figures seven times this season with a season-best 16 against St. Mary's (Texas) on Nov. 30.
- Senior guard Derrell Gibbs (Wichita Falls, Texas / Burkburnett HS) has scored in double figures in three of his last five outings, but failed to score the last time out against St. Gregory's (Okla.). He did, however, pull down a season-best nine rebounds against the Cavaliers and is averaging 5.2 boards per contest during MSU's current six-game winning streak.
- Senior forward Abiodun Adegoke (Buford, Ga. / Mill Creek HS (Western Texas)) boasts a season field goal percentage of 73.7 and has shot 50-percent or better in each of MSU's 13 games this season. The 6-8 forward has seven-or-more rebounds in four of his last eight games including a career-high 14 at South Dakota Mines on Dec. 18.
- Senior guard Kevin Wagner (Lubbock, Texas / Estacado HS (McLennan CC)) dished out a season-best 10 assists off of the bench the last time out against St. Gregory's (Okla.). He boasts a 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio (47:19) and has dished out at least five assists in five games this season while playing no more than 17 minutes in any of those games.
- Junior forward Khapri Alston (Chicago, Ill. / Thornwood HS (Northeast CC (Neb.))) delivered his fourth double-figure outing of the season with 12 points and six rebounds the last time out against St. Gregory's (Okla.). The 6-5 forward has accounted for at least six rebounds in each of his last five games.
 
MSU BATTLES D1 SMU TO WIRE IN EXHIBITION PLAY
- Midwestern State held a lead midway through the second half and was within a single possession with 2:46 to play before succumbing to Division I SMU 70-61 Tuesday night at Moody Coliseum.
- The game counted as a discretionary exhibition game for Midwestern State, but was a regular season contest for SMU.
- Senior guard Derrell Gibbs (Wichita Falls, Texas / Burkburnett HS) knocked down three 3-pointers to finish with 11 points to go along with five rebounds, while junior guard Bretson McNeal (Minneapolis, Minn. / DeLaSalle HS (North Dakota State Science)) bombed in three triples to finish with 11 points and four rebounds.
- Senior forward Xavier Blackburn (Verdunville, La. / St. Thomas More HS (North Dakota State Science)) added nine points and six rebounds while Abiodun Adegoke (Buford, Ga. / Mill Creek HS (Western Texas)), Pat Smith (Houston, Texas / Jones HS), Tavarion Nix (Havelock, N.C. / Havelock HS (Redlands CC)) and Khapri Alston (Chicago, Ill. / Thornwood HS (Northeast CC (Neb.))) added five points each.
 
THE HAGGERTY ERA
- Nelson Haggerty is in his fourth season at the helm for Midwestern State as one of the top young coaches in college basketball.
- Haggerty boasts an 85-24 mark (.780) 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.
 
DOME MAGIC
- Midwestern State boasts a 548-128 all time mark (.811) in the 46-year history of D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- MSU won 70 consecutive games under the dome from Jan. 5, 1973 to Jan. 24, 1977 then peeled off 41 straight victories from Nov. 18, 2008 to Feb. 16, 2011.
- The Mustangs are 42-4 (.913) at Ligon Coliseum during Nelson Haggerty's tenure at the helm (2011-present).
- Midwestern's current home winning streak is 11 games dating back to an 83-81 loss to Tarleton State on Jan. 15, 2014.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State opens Lone Star Conference play Saturday night against Texas A&M-Commerce. Tipoff at D.L. Ligon Coliseum is set for 6 p.m.