Midwestern State vs. West Texas A&M
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 | 7:30 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (12-3, 1-0); West Texas A&M (9-4, 0-0)
Video: MSUMustangs.com 
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM
Audio: MSUMustangs.com  
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com 
 
ON THE COURT
It's another matchup between teams on a roll Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Midwestern State carries an 8-game winning streak into the Lone Star Conference game, while rival West Texas A&M has won its last six. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE BUFFALOES
- West Texas A&M has won its last six games since dropping a 68-63 decision to Emporia State (Kan.) on Nov. 29 at First United Bank Center in Canyon.
- The Buffs won their first two coming out of the holiday break edging a tough Mid-America Christian (Okla.) squad 92-84 in overtime before rolling to a 105-58 victory over Hillsdale Baptist (Okla.) Saturday in Canyon to improve to 9-4 on the season.
- Senior guard Tez Dumars paces the West Texas A&M attack averaging 16.8 points per game but has accounted for 34.4 percent of his points at the charity stripe where he has connected on 75-of-99 attempts (75.8 percent). He is shooting 39.6 percent from the field and 27 percent from 3-point range.
- Reigning Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week David Chavlovich is averaging 16.6 points a contest dishing out 3.8 assists and pulling down 3.8 rebounds per game from the point guard position. The freshman from Arlington has come out of the Christmas break on fire connecting on eight 3-pointers to score 27 points on Mid-America Christian before burying five triples to notch 20 points versus Hillsdale Baptist.
- Senior guard Miles Gatewood pitches in 14.5 points, 4.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. He notched a career-high 26 points against Mid-America Christian.
- Senior guard Antjuan Ball adds 12.8 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds per game. He posted three consecutive 20-point performances earlier this season including a 20-point, 18-rebound effort against Western State Colorado.
- Tom Brown is in his first season at the helm of the West Texas A&M men's basketball program. He previously served as an assistant coach at NCAA II powerhouse Winona State (Minn.) helping the Warriors to six Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championships and 10 NCAA national tournament appearances including national championships in 2006 and 2008.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and West Texas A&M meet for the 63rd time on the hardwood Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- West Texas A&M holds a 34-28 edge in the series which dates back to the 1947-48 season.
- Midwestern has won the last four meetings between the programs including sweeps in each of the last two seasons.
- The Mustangs have won the last six games between the programs dating back to an 86-83 overtime loss on Feb. 13, 2008.
- Three of the last seven games between the teams in Wichita Falls have gone to overtime.
- Midwestern is 18-8 all time against the Buffaloes in Wichita Falls including a 15-5 mark at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State extended its winning streak to eight games claiming wins over South Dakota Mines and Texas A&M-Commerce.
- The Mustangs have won 12 straight games at D.L. Ligon Coliseum dating back to last season.
- Midwestern held a lead midway through the second half and was within a single possession with less than 3 minutes to go before falling to SMU 70-61 on Monday, Dec. 29 at Moody Coliseum in Dallas.
- MSU tops all of NCAA Division II in total blocks (82.0) and total rebounds (625.0) and is third in total steals (131.0).
- The Mustangs rate 13th in rebound margin at +9.1.
- Midwestern continues to receive votes in the NABC Division II Coaches' Poll.
- Junior guard Bretson McNeal (Minneapolis, Minn. / DeLaSalle HS (North Dakota State Science)) knocked down at least two 3-pointers in each of the 11 games that he played more than 30 seconds.
- McNeal is shooting 46.1 percent from 3-point range.
- Senior forward Tavarion Nix (Havelock, N.C. / Havelock HS (Redlands CC)) knocked down 7-of-8 shots including his first collegiate 3-pointer to finish with a career-high 15 points Saturday night against Texas A&M-Commerce.
- Senior guard Thaddeus Rideau (Port Arthur, Texas / East Ascension HS (UAB)) has buried five 3-pointers over the past two games scoring 12 points against South Dakota Mines and 10 against Texas A&M-Commerce.
- Senior forward Trevor Fuller (Dallas, Texas / Episcopal School (San Diego)) is shooting 89.7 percent (26-of-29) from the field over the past seven games before sitting out of Saturday night's game against Texas A&M-Commerce due to injury.
- Senior forward Xavier Blackburn (Verdunville, La. / St. Thomas More HS (North Dakota State Science)) averaged 14 points and 8 rebounds in wins over South Dakota Mines and Texas A&M-Commerce last week.
- Senior guard Derrell Gibbs (Wichita Falls, Texas / Burkburnett HS) matched a season high with nine rebounds Saturday night against Texas A&M-Commerce.
- Senior guard Kevin Wagner (Lubbock, Texas / Estacado HS (McLennan CC)) dished out a season-high 10 assists Wednesday night against South Dakota Mines.
- Junior forward Khapri Alston (Chicago, Ill. / Thornwood HS (Northeast CC (Neb.))) has snagged at least five rebounds in each of his last seven games.
 
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 87-24 mark (.784) 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 550-128 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 44-4 (.917) at Ligon Coliseum during Nelson Haggerty's tenure at the helm (2011-present).
- Midwestern's current home winning streak is 13 games dating back to an 83-81 loss to Tarleton State on Jan. 15, 2014.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State hits the road to take on Eastern New Mexico Sunday afternoon at Greyhound Arena in Portales. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. (Central Time).