Game Book (PDF)

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – A layup by senior post Khapri Alston with 2.9 seconds to play lifted No. 10/2 Midwestern State to its sixth-straight victory Saturday afternoon with a 75-73 win over Ouachita Baptist at Bill Vining Arena.

Ouachita Baptist (2-8) trimmed down its deficit in the final two minutes as the Mustangs missed three free throws down the stretch, shooting a season-low 51.6 percent (16-of-31) from the charity stripe for the game.

OBU eventually tied up the contest at 73-all as sophomore guard Jordan Corbitt sank a pair of free throws with 19 seconds remaining. Midwestern State (9-1) then called a 30-second timeout to draw up a play for the final possession, leading to Alston's game-winning layup in the final seconds.

Junior guard Sheldon Hagigal came off the bench to lead the Mustangs with 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting with three triples. Senior forward DeVaughn Jones also reached double figures with 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting while tying a team-high three steals off the bench.

Hagigal provided an offensive spark for the Mustangs in the first 10 minutes of the opening period, scoring seven of MSU's first 15 points. On the defensive end, junior forward Trevor Fuller kept the Tigers on their toes with three blocks and a couple of steals in the first three minutes of action. Fuller finished with a season-high five blocks while matching a team-best three steals.

After a three-pointer from Hagigal put the Mustangs ahead 15-7, OBU reeled off a 5-0 run in under a minute to cut the MSU lead to 15-12 with 11:09 to play.

A layup by OBU junior forward Carven Holcombe began a 10-3 run for the Tigers in a two-minute span just over halfway through the period. The Tigers capitalized on their trips to the free-throw line during their run, sinking 6-of-8 to grab a 32-25 lead with 5:28 remaining in the half.

Jones recorded six-straight points as MSU quickly erased its largest deficit of the game for a one-point contest late in the first. OBU went scoreless the final 2:23 of the half and saw its lead disappear as senior guard Brandon Golden put the Mustangs ahead 38-36 with a layup in the final seconds of the half.

Senior guard Jordan Stevens knocked down a couple of three-pointers to help the Mustangs open the second half on a 12-4 run to take a 50-40 lead four minutes into the frame.

Midwestern opened up a 62-49 advantage with less than 10 minutes to play before a three-pointer from junior guard Lakee Westbrook sparked a 9-0 run for the Tigers to make it a 62-58 contest with eight minutes remaining.

A dunk by junior post Trevor Fuller began another spurt by the Maroon and Gold as the Mustangs claimed a 69-61 advantage before the Tigers answered again by closing the gap to within a basket in the final minutes.

The Mustangs shot 41.3 percent (26-of-63) from the field while OBU posted a 40.0 percentage (22-of-55) while hitting 77.8 percent (21-of-27) from the line.

Junior guard Justin McCleary led the Tigers with 20 points while Westbrook and senior guard David Berete added 17 apiece. Berete added 13 rebounds for the double-double while leading all players with four steals.

Midwestern State next takes the court Thursday, Dec. 31 for a 6 p.m. tipoff against Science and Arts (Okla.) at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.