Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville
Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015 | 6 p.m.
Steinke Center | Kingsville, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (15-4, 4-1); Texas A&M-Kingsville (6-11, 1-4)
Video: TAMUK.tv 
Radio: ESPN 95.5
Audio: MSUMustangs.com 
Live Stats: JavelinaAthletics.com 
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State battles Texas A&M-Kingsville in a Lone Star Conference battle Saturday night at Steinke Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
 
SCOUTING THE JAVELINAS
- Texas A&M-Kingsville has lost their last two games and nine of their last 12 heading into Saturday's game against Midwestern State.
- Junior forward Troy Jones leads the Hoggie attack pouring in 14.2 points while pulling down 7.1 rebounds per game. The 6-7 transfer forward from Navarro College ranks 12th in NCAA Division II shooting 65.3 percent from the field. He has scored in double figures in 14 of 17 games this season.
- Junior guard Jamar Goodwin drops in 10.4 points per game while shooting 40.1 percent from the field. The transfer from Navarro College has scored 20-or-more points in three games this season.
- Senior forward Jordan Jahr scores 10.2 points and pulls down 6.1 rebounds per game while shooting 43.6 percent from the field. The transfer from Evansville poured in 20-or-more points twice this season including a campaign-best 23 points against Lake Erie.
- Junior guard D.J. Weathers connected on two 3-pointers to finish with a team-high 15 points off of the bench Wednesday night at Cameron.
- Junior guard Duan Wright notched 12 points and six rebounds before fouling out in 25 minutes at Cameron.
- Former Texas A&M-Kingsville alum Johnny Estelle is in his first season as head coach of the Javelinas.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Kingsville meet for the 42nd time on the hardwood Saturday night at Steinke Center.
- The Mustangs own a commanding 30-11 edge in the series which dates back to the 1976-77 season.
- MSU has won the last 14 meetings between the programs with the Javelinas' last win coming by a 78-63 count on Feb. 16, 2008 in Kingsville.
- The Mustangs' average margin of victory during the 14 games is +15.
- Midwestern is 12-6 all time against Texas A&M-Kingsville at Steinke Center.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State had its 11-game winning streak snapped with a 72-55 loss to Angelo State Wednesday night against Angelo State.
- The loss also snapped the Mustangs' 14-game home court winning streak dating back to an 83-81 loss to Tarleton State on Jan. 15, 2014.
- The Mustangs rank amongst national leaders in numerous categories as MSU is second in total rebounds (808.0), third in total blocks (108.0), fourth in field goal percentage defense (37.9), fourth in 3-point field goal defense (27.9), sixth in rebound margin (+10.6), seven in blocked shots per game (5.7) and 10th in offensive rebounds per game (15.16).
- Senior forward Khapri Alston (Chicago, Ill. / Thornwood HS (Northeast CC (Neb.))) pounded his way for a team-high 12 points while pulling down seven rebounds in 20 minutes Wednesday against Angelo State.
- Alston has scored in double figures in four consecutive games posting averages of 14.3 points and 8.0 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game while shooting 50 percent from the field during the stretch.
- Senior guard Kevin Wagner (Lubbock, Texas / Estacado HS (McLennan CC)) dropped in a season-high 11 points against Angelo State. He has played 30-or-more minutes in each of his last two outings.
- Senior guard Derrell Gibbs (Wichita Falls, Texas / Burkburnett HS) buried two 3-pointers to finish with 10 points Wednesday against Angelo State. It was his fourth double-digit performance of the season.
- Senior forward Abiodun Adegoke (Buford, Ga. / Mill Creek HS (Western Texas)) has pulled down 10.3 rebounds per game over his last three outings.
- Senior guard Bretson McNeal (Minneapolis, Minn. / DeLaSalle HS (North Dakota State Science)) was limited to 3 points Wednesday against Angelo State. It was the first time this season that he was held to fewer than 10 points in a game that he played at least one minute.
- Senior guard Hershell Grant (Washington, D.C. / Roosevelt HS (Clarendon College)) has missed the last three games due to injury.
 
IN THE RANKINGS
- Midwestern State entered the NABC Division II Top 25 at No. 23, while moving up four spots in the D2 Media Poll to No. 20.
 
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 a 90-25 mark (.783) 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 takes on Cameron next Saturday at Aggie Gym in Lawton. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.