Midwestern State vs. Southwestern Assemblies of God
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015 | 4 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (7-1); Southwestern Assemblies of God (9-2)
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM
Video: Mustangs Digital Network (PPV) 
Audio: Mustangs Digital Network (Free) 
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com  
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State returns from finals break to take on a strong NAIA opponent in Southwestern Assemblies of God Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS
- Southwestern Assemblies of God rolls into D.L. Ligon Coliseum on a four-game winning streak and has won seven of the last eight.
- The Lions are ranked 15th in the latest NAIA Division I Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll released Tuesday afternoon.
- Both of SAGU's losses this season have come against NAIA No. 22-ranked Wiley on Nov. 3 (62-58) at home and away on Nov. 19 (68-65).
- The Lions rank amongst the Top 10 in several NAIA categories including second in total steals (127), third in 3-point field goal percentage defense (.247), third in offensive rebounds per game (17.5), fourth in field goal percentage defense (.366), sixth in scoring defense per game (64.1), sixth in steals per game (11.5), sixth in total rebounds per game (47.6), eighth in total 3-pointers made (102) and ninth in total rebound margin (+10.4).
- Junior guard Keyunta Watkins leads the Lions in scoring at 18.3 points per game while burying 26 triples over seven contests. He has hit at least five 3-pointers in three games this season including seven in a 24-point effort against Paul Quinn on Nov. 23.
- Freshman guard Isaak Rowe averages 10.7 points and 4.8 rebounds over 10 games while shooting 53.7 percent from the field.
- Junior forward Tyler Pate, who began his collegiate career at Florida Atlantic, drops in 10.5 points a game while pulling down 3.6 rebounds.
- Senior guard Rishaad Alexander has scored in double figures in each of his last four games and is coming off of a season-high 19 point effort Monday against Jarvis Christian.
- Senior forward Emmanuel Adoyi ranks amongst NAIA rebound leaders averaging 9.3 a game.
- SAGU coach Donnie Bostwick has directed the Lions to a 117-35 record (.770) over the past five seasons including a 73-60 season opening win at Tarleton State in 2012-13.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Southwestern Assemblies of God meet for the fourth time on the hardwood Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- The Mustangs have won each of the previous three meetings by an average of 36 points per game, but have not played SAGU since winning 96-64 on Dec. 14, 2004.
- Each of the previous three meetings came were at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State improved to 7-1 on the season taking home wins over St. Mary's (Texas) (77-66) and Oklahoma Christian (99-66) last week.
- The Mustangs have at least seven of their first eight games for the 15th time in school history and are off to their best start since opening the 2011-12 campaign with 13 consecutive wins.
- MSU has shot 50 percent or better as a team in each of its last three games and is five of eight games this season.
- The Mustangs rank second in the LSC with a season field goal percentage of 50.4.
- Five of MSU's seven wins have been by double figures.
- Midwestern State boasts an opponent winning percentage of .650.
- Senior guard Bretson McNeal paced MSU in scoring in both wins last week scoring 15 points against St. Mary's (Texas) and 16 versus Oklahoma Christian.
- McNeal shot 53.3 percent from the field and 6-of-11 from the 3-point line in the wins over St. Mary's and Oklahoma Christian.
- Senior forward Khapri Alston notched his fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds against St. Mary's on Tuesday.
- Senior forward DeVaughn Jones recorded his second perfect night from the field going 6-for-6 with 14 points Tuesday against St. Mary's.
- Junior forward Trevor Fuller blocked three shots in each game last week and has recorded a blocked in each of MSU's seven games this season.
- Senior guard Jordan Stevens tallied 13 points and dished out six assists against Oklahoma Christian. It was Stevens' fifth game with at least five assists.
- Junior guard Sheldon Hagigal scored in double figures off of the bench for the fourth time this season finishing with 12 points with a pair of 3-pointers while dishing out two assists Friday against Oklahoma Christian.
 
MSU IN THE POLLS
- Midwestern State attained its highest national ranking in program history reaching No. 2 in the latest D2 Media Poll released earlier this season. The Mustangs previously ranked as high as No. 3 in the NABC's final regular season rankings at the end of the 2009-10 season.
- The Mustangs moved up two spots to No. 12 in this week's edition of the NABC Division II Coaches' Top 25.
 
MUSTANGS IN THE NATIONAL STATISTICAL RANKINGS
- Midwestern State ranks fourth in NCAA Division II in rebound margin (+12.3), fourth in total blocks (50.0) and fifth in blocked shots per game (6.3).
- The Mustangs also rate high in scoring categories at 12th in field goal percentage defense (38.7) and 19th in team field goal percentage (50.4) resulting in a ranking of 18th in scoring margin (+16.3).
- Senior forward Trevor Fuller ranks 13th in blocked shots per game (2.75).
- Senior forward Khapri Alston is 15th in the nation with four double-doubles (points/rebounds).
 
THE HAGGERTY ERA
- Nelson Haggerty is in his fifth season at the helm for Midwestern State as one of the top young coaches in college basketball.
- Haggerty boasts a 104-31 mark (.770) leading the Mustangs to the NCAA Division II postseason in each of his campaigns at the helm and to  Lone Star Conference championships in each of his first 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 six consecutive years.
 
NEXT TIME OUT
Midwestern State hits the road to take on Ouachita Baptist on Saturday, Dec. 19 at Bill Vining Arena in Arkadelphia, Ark. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.