TIPOFF
Midwestern State goes for its fourth straight win Saturday night when the Mustangs play host to Texas A&M-Commerce in a Lone Star Conference tilt Saturday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
 

---

Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Commerce
Saturday, Feb. 8 | 6 p.m.
Records: Midwestern State (14-6, 6-2 LSC); Texas A&M-Commerce (14-6, 3-5 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 LIONS
Texas A&M-Commerce is still looking for its first Lone Star Conference road win Saturday night against Midwestern State at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Lions are 0-4 on the road during league taking losses at Angelo State, Cameron, Eastern New Mexico and Tarleton State. A&M-C rebounded with an 89-79 win over Cameron Wednesday night in Commerce. Junior guard LaDon Carnegie leads a deep group of scoring threats for the LSC's No. 2 offensive attack which comes into the weekend scoring 82.7 points per game. Carnegie ranks ninth in the league at 14.4 points per game while pulling down 6.1 rebounds a game. Senior guard Devondrick Walker pitches 12.7 points a game connected on 2.1 3-pointers per game at a 43.3-percent clip, while senior guard Tyrie Wooten drops in 12.5 points per game to go along with 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest. Senior guard Kameron Price (9.9 points, 4.1 rebounds), junior center Christian Macauley (9.5 points, 7.3 rebounds), senior forward Kenny Brown (7.2 points, 5.3 rebounds), senior guard Daniel Ehambe (5.4 points) and junior forward Cameron Blue (4.8 points, 3.5 rebounds) add to A&M-Commerce's depth of scoring options. The Lions give up an LSC worst 78.1 points per game.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Commerce meet for the 82nd time on the hardwood in the fourth longest running series in program history Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs own a 50-31 edge in the series which dates back to the 1947-48 season. The Mustangs have won the last three meetings and 13 of the last 14 against the Lions dating back to the 2005-06 season with A&M-Commerce's lone win coming by a 74-66 count on Jan. 9, 2013 in Commerce. MSU has won the last six match-ups between the programs in Wichita Falls with the Lions' last win under the dome coming on Jan. 29, 2004. Midwestern State is 19-5 all time against A&M-Commerce at Ligon Coliseum.
All-Time Series: PDF  
 
LAST TIME OUT VS. TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE
Senior guard DeJuan Plummer hit five 3s on his way to a game-high 21 points to lead Midwestern State to an 84-73 win over Texas A&M-Commerce on Jan. 4 at the A&M-Commerce Fieldhouse. The Mustangs broke open a tight game with a 10-1 run near the end of the first half pushing the lead into double figures. A&M-C trimmed the margin down to a single point in the second half, but MSU answered with an 8-2 run and extended the advantage to as large as 14 down the stretch. Senior guard Monzaigo Williams recorded his second career double-double with 17 points and 10 assists while Xavier Blackburn and Cam Adderley pitched in 15 and 10 points, respectively, while pulling down nine boards each. LaDon Carnegie scored 18 points to pace the Lions.
 

---

ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
Midwestern State claimed its second-straight overtime victory to extend its current winning streak to three games by claiming a 77-75 win over No. 2-ranked Tarleton State Wednesday  night in Stephenville. Senior guard Monzaigo Williams ranks second in the LSC in scoring at 17.2 points per game, 15th in field goal percentage (.473), fifth in assists per game (4.3), 14th in free throw percentage (.745), sixth in 3-point percentage (.436), second in steals per game (1.8) and second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8). Junior forward Xavier Blackburn has come on strong to average 12.9 points and 9.4 rebounds a game in league play to pull his season tallies to 10.2 points and 7.2 boards a game. Senior guard DeJuan Plummer comes off of the bench to score 10.9 points while shooting 39.1 percent from the field. Senior forward  Eddie D'Haiti (8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds), senior guard Cam Adderley (7.9 points, 5.3 rebounds) and junior guard Derrell Gibbs (4.5 points, 4.4 rebounds) add quality depth for MSU. Senior guard JaMichael Rivers is scoring 7.0 points per game since returning from a foot injury four games ago. Midwestern State ranks fifth in the LSC in scoring at 74.2 points per game and is second in the league in scoring defense allowing 68.0 points a contest.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Senior guard Monzaigo Williams hit an 18-foot jumper with 3.8 seconds remaining in overtime to lift Midwestern State to a 77-75 win over No. 2-ranked Tarleton State Wednesday night in Stephenville. The loss snapped a 20-game home court winning streak for the Texans as well as TSU's longest all-time overall winning streak at 18. Williams finished with 18 points while junior forward Xavier Blackburn notched his fourth double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Tarleton State's De'Andre Upchurch had 21 points to lead the Texans.
 
MSU UNDER NELSON HAGGERTY
Nelson Haggerty is in his third year as head coach of the Mustangs. He boasts a 64-19 mark (.771) 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.
 
THIS IS OUR HOUSE, THIS IS OUR HOME
Midwestern State has enjoyed one of the best home court advantages in small college basketball over the last 46 seasons at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs have posted an .808 winning percentage with a 539-128 all-time record under the dome.  Midwestern rolled off a facility record 70 consecutive wins from Jan. 5, 1973 to Jan. 24, 1977. And, in more recent times, the Mustangs boasted 41 consecutive wins between the 2008-09 and 2010-11 seasons. MSU has posted eight unbeaten seasons under the dome (1973-74, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1985-86, 1992-93, 1999-00, 2009-10 and 2011-12). The Mustangs have won at least 10 games at Ligon Coliseum in eight of the last nine seasons. Midwestern State improved to 5-2 on Gerald Stockton Court in D.L. Ligon Coliseum with Saturday's win over Texas A&M-Kingsville.
 
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 31st in NCAA Division in total rebounds (801.0) and is 20th in rebound margin (+7.3). Both of those numbers top the Lone Star Conference as the Mustangs also lead the league in offensive rebounds (15.5 per game), offensive rebound percentage (.390) and defensive rebound percentage (.720). MSU has out-rebounded 13 of its last 14 opponents by an average of 9.7 rebounds a game. The Mustangs have controlled the rebounding edge in 16 out of 20 games this season and are 11-5 when posting a positive rebound margin.
 
SHOOTING 44
Midwestern State is 1-5 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. The Mustangs' lone exception to the 44 percent came in an 83-62 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville (Jan. 25) when the Hoggies managed a 44.1-percent shooting night. Midwestern is 7-0 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 146-38 mark (.793) 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 (7-1) clings to a one-game lead of Midwestern State (6-2) in the race for the Lone Star Conference championship. Angelo State (5-3) and Eastern New Mexico (5-3) remain two games back trailed by Texas A&M-Commerce (3-5), Cameron (3-5), Texas A&M-Kingsville (2-6) and West Texas A&M (1-7).
- Tarleton State (7-1) was knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten Wednesday night falling to Midwestern State 77-75 in overtime. The Texans hit the road to face Cameron on Saturday then battle Angelo State Wednesday in San Angelo.
- Angelo State (5-3) recovered from their lone loss of the season at home to defeat West Texas A&M Wednesday in Canyon. The Rams play host to Eastern New Mexico on Saturday before welcoming Tarleton State on Wednesday.
- Eastern New Mexico (5-3) claimed its third straight win with a 68-62 OT win over Texas A&M-Kingsville Wednesday as the Greyhounds have now won six of their last seven. ENMU hits the road to face Angelo State Saturday at Junell Center then face Cameron Wednesday night in Lawton.
- Texas A&M-Commerce (3-5) improved to 7-1 at home this season with an 89-79 win over West Texas A&M Wednesday at the Fieldhouse, but are still looking for their first road win in LSC play. The Lions hit the road to face Midwestern State on Saturday then trek to South Texas to take on Texas A&M-Kingsville next Wednesday.
- Cameron (3-5) extended its skid to five games by falling to Texas A&M-Commerce 89-79 Wednesday night on the road. The Aggies play host to league-leading Tarleton State on Saturday, then battle Eastern New Mexico next Wednesday also at Aggie Gym.
- Texas A&M-Kingsville (2-6) dropped its sixth in its last eight games Wednesday night at Eastern New Mexico. The Javelinas play host to West Texas A&M on Saturday and Texas A&M-Commerce next Wednesday.
- West Texas A&M (1-7) has lost seven of its last nine. The Buffs hit the road to take on Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday before playing Midwestern State next Wednesday in Wichita Falls.
 
WITH A WIN, MIDWESTERN STATE, WOULD...
... improve to 15-6 on the season.
... improve to 7-2 in Lone Star Conference play.
... improve to 51-31 all time against Texas A&M-Commerce.
... improve to 20-5 all time against the Lions at Ligon Coliseum.
... claim its fourth straight win over A&M-C -- last loss 1/9/13 (74-66) in Commerce.
... claim its seventh straight win over A&M-C at Ligon Coliseum -- last loss 1/29/04 (57-46).
... improve to 147-38 (.795) since the start of the 2008-09 season.
... improve to 66-19 (.776) under head coach Nelson Haggerty.
... improve to 11-8 on Feb. 8.
 
WITH A LOSS, MIDWESTERN STATE, WOULD...
... fall to 14-7 on the season.
... fall to 6-3 in Lone Star Conference play.
... fall to 50-32 all time against Texas A&M-Commerce.
... fall to 19-6 all time against the Lions at Ligon Coliseum.
... lose to A&M-C for first time since Jan. 9, 2013 (74-66) -- a span of three games.
... lose to A&M-C at Ligon Coliseum for first time since Jan. 29, 2004 (57-46) -- a span of six games.
... fall to 146-39 (.789) since the start of the 2008-09 season.
... fall to 65-20 (.765) under head coach Nelson Haggerty.
... fall to 10-9 on Feb. 8.
 
THREE...DOT...THOUGHTS...
Midwestern State has won three consecutive games for the fourth time this season... The Mustangs posted their longest winning streak posting five consecutive victories from the start of the season... MSU won its second game against a team ranked No. 2 in the NABC Division II Poll with its 77-75 win over Tarleton State Wednesday night in Stephenville with its other win over a No. 2 coming against Sam Houston State (81-72) on Feb. 8, 1986... Midwestern is 2-3 all time against Division II's second-best team, but has yet to face a No. 1... Midwestern State has been whistled for 30-or-more fouls in each of its last three visits to Wisdom Gym... Over the past 12 years (covering 11 games), the Mustangs have been called for an average of 28.8 fouls per game at Wisdom Gym in comparison to the Tarleton State's 20.7 -- a margin of 8.1. In 12 games over the same time period at D.L. Ligon Coliseum, the Texans were called for 19.8 fouls per game to MSU's 19.2 -- a margin of 0.6... Midwestern State's win over the Texans spoiled TSU's run at a perfect LSC season which hasn't been accomplished since Abilene Christian went 10-0 during the 1985-86 season... The Mustangs are 30-47 all time against teams ranked in the D2 Top 25 and is 6-4 in the Nelson Haggerty era... MSU is 3-1 in LSC road games this season claiming wins at Texas A&M-Commerce, West Texas A&M and Tarleton State... It's the first time the Mustangs have claimed victories in Canyon and Stephenville in the same season... Senior guard Monzaigo Williams is averaging 20 points, 4.0 assists and 3.3 rebounds over his last three games since being limited to 7 points against Angelo State which was the only time this season he was held to less than 10 points... Junior forward Tavarion Nix scored six points and was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field with three rebounds in nine minutes Wednesday against Tarleton State... Junior guard Derrell Gibbs snapped a five-game run without a 3-pointer (0-10) with a trey against Tarleton State. He finished with five points and five rebounds in 31 minutes against the Texans... Junior forward Xavier Blackburn notched his second straight double-double and fourth of the season finishing with 17 points and 14 rebounds Wednesday against Tarleton State... Blackburn ranks 11th in the LSC during conference play with 12.9 points and tops the league with 9.4 rebounds per game... Senior guard Cam Adderley fell a point shy of notching his third consecutive double-figure scoring game finishing with nine points and four rebounds in 28 minutes Wednesday against Tarleton State... Junior forward Abiodun Adegoke battled for five points and four rebounds in 11 minutes Wednesday against Tarleton State... Adegoke snapped an 0-for-10 run at the free throw by knocking his first charity toss of the season... Junior forward DeVaughn Jones was 2-for-2 from the field to finishing with four points and two rebounds in 8 minutes Wednesday against Tarleton State...
 
LOOKING AHEAD
Midwestern State plays host to West Texas A&M in a First United Bank Highway 287 Challenge Cup game Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.