Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Commerce
Saturday, Jan. 3, 2014 | 6 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (11-3, 0-0); Texas A&M-Commerce (9-2, 0-0)
Video: MSUMustangs.com 
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM
Audio: MSUMustangs.com 
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com 
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State opens Lone Star Conference Saturday night against Texas A&M-Commerce at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE LIONS
- Texas A&M-Commerce rides a seven-game winning streak into Saturday night's Lone Star Conference opener against Midwestern State.
- The Lions haven't lost since dropping consecutive contests to Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) (87-83) and Dallas Baptist (104-101) -- both on the road.
- A&M-Commerce claimed consecutive wins over nationally ranked opposition at the California Baptist Thanksgiving Classic beating 11th-ranked California Baptist (68-67) and 17th-ranked Dixie State (Utah) (74-64).
- The Lions are receiving votes in both the NABC Division II Poll and the D2 Media Poll.
- Senior LaDon Carnegie tops the Lone Star Conference and leads a trio of Lions averaging in double figures at 18.4 points per game. The 6-6 forward has scored 20-or-more points five times this season including in each of his last two outings against Southern Arkansas (20 points) and Henderson State (23 points, 10 rebounds). He poured in a season-high 37 against Dallas Baptist on Nov. 22.
- Senior Darrell Williams ranks fourth in the LSC dropping in 16.4 points while leading the league in rebounding grabbing 11.7 boards per game. He boasts seven double-doubles this season while scoring in double figures in each of his last seven games.
- Junior sharpshooter Anthony Adams splashes in 45.2 percent of his shots from the arc to score 14.6 points a contest, but is a proven all-around performer averaging 4.7 assists and 3.5 rebounds a game.
- The trio gets support from senior center Christian Macauley (8.5 points, 6.6 rebounds), junior guard J.R. Owens (6.7 points, 3.5 rebounds) and junior forward Everrett Pleasant (6.7 points, 5.4 rebounds).
- Sam Walker is in his 15th year at the helm of the Texas A&M-Commerce men's basketball program boasting a 234-174 mark (.574).
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Commerce meet for the 82nd time on the hardwood Saturday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- The Mustangs own a 50-31 edge in the series which dates back to the 1947-48 season.
- MSU has won 14 of the last 15 matchups in the series dating back to the start of the 2005-06 season.
- Midwestern has won the last seven meetings between the programs played at D.L. Ligon Coliseum and is 20-5 all time against the Lions under the dome.
- Texas A&M-Commerce claimed its last win in Wichita Falls on Jan. 10, 2005 -- 58-53.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State extended its current winning streak to seven games  rolling to a 90-63 win over South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- Six of the seven wins have come by at least 10 points as the Mustangs boast an average margin of victory of 23.4 points over the run.
- 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.
- The Mustangs lead NCAA Division II in total blocks (82.0) and total rebounds (625.0), is third in total steals (131.0), seventh in 3-point field goal defense (27.5) and 12th in field goal percentage defense (38.6).
- Senior guard Bretson McNeal (Minneapolis, Minn. / DeLaSalle HS (North Dakota State Science)) poured in a game-high 25 points connected on four 3-pointers in MSU's 90-63 win over South Dakota Mines Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- McNeal is averaging 23.3 points per game over his last four outings knocking down 28 of his 53 shots from the field (.528) and 17 of his 33 shots from the arc (.515).
- McNeal is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers in the 10 games in which he has played more than one possession. He left the game against Missouri Southern less than 30 seconds into the contest after suffering a leg injury.
- Senior forward Trevor Fuller (Dallas, Texas / Episcopal School (San Diego)) logged his second consecutive double-figure scoring outing finishing with 10 points, five rebounds and five blocked shots Wednesday night against South Dakota Mines.
- Fuller ranks seventh in NCAA Division II in total blocks (29.0) and is 25th in blocked shots per game (2.1).
- Fuller is averaging nine points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game over his last seven games while shooting 89.7 percent from the field (26-of-29).
- Senior forward Xavier Blackburn (Verdunville, La. / St. Thomas More HS (North Dakota State Science)) shook out of a shooting slump by hitting 4-of-8 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free throw line to finish with 13 points and five rebounds Wednesday night against South Dakota Mines. He averaged 5.4 points per game over his previous five games.
- Junior guard Thaddeus Rideau (Port Arthur, Texas / East Ascension HS (UAB)) knocked three 3-pointers to notch 12 points  to go along with three rebounds and three steals versus South Dakota Mines. It was his third double figure performance of the season.
- Senior guard Derrell Gibbs (Wichita Falls, Texas / Burkburnett HS) connected on two treys to finish with six points and is five for his last nine behind the arc if you include the three 3s he hit in the exhibition game Monday night at SMU.
- Sophomore guard Pat Smith (Houston, Texas / Jones HS) notched season highs with three assists and three steals in 21 minutes Wednesday against South Dakota Mines.
 
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 86-24 mark (.782) 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 549-128 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 43-4 (.915) at Ligon Coliseum during Nelson Haggerty's tenure at the helm (2011-present).
- Midwestern's current home winning streak is 12 games dating back to an 83-81 loss to Tarleton State on Jan. 15, 2014.

UP NEXT
Midwestern State plays host to West Texas A&M in a Highway 287 Challenge Cup contest Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.