Midwestern State vs. Angelo State
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015 | 6 p.m.
Junell Center | San Angelo, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (19-6, 8-3); Angelo State (22-2, 9-1)
Video: AngeloSports.com 
Radio: ESPN 95.5
Audio: MSUMustangs.com 
Live Stats: AngeloSports.com 
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State battles nationally ranked Angelo State in a Lone Star Conference contest Wednesday night at Junell Center/Stephens Arena. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.
 
SCOUTING THE RAMS
- Angelo State had its 16-game winning streak snapped last Wednesday at Tarleton State before bouncing back for an 85-51 victory over South Dakota Mines.
- The Rams became the latest in a long line of teams falling short of sweeping through Lone Star Conference play. No team has run the LSC gauntlet unbeaten since the 1980s.
- ASU has won its last 16 games at Junell Center dating back to a 72-64 loss to Tarleton State on Feb. 12, 2014.
- The Rams rank amongst national statistical leaders in numerous categories including scoring margin (1st/25.5), field goal percentage (1st/53.6), field goal percentage defense (38.1/3rd), assists per game (5th/18.7), assist-to-turnover ratio (6th/1.54), total assists (6th/449.0), scoring offense (8th/88.0), rebound margin (8th/8.9) and 3-point field goal defense (9th/30.6).
- Senior Demario Mayfield leads a quartet of senior transfers leading the Rams in scoring at 16.2 points per game while pulling down 8.3 rebounds and dishing out 4.1 assists. Mayfield spent time at Georgia, Charlotte and Morehead State prior to arriving at Angelo State.
- Senior transfer Chris Jones chips in 15.3 points while dishing out a team-high 5.0 assists and grabbing 4.3 rebounds per game. Jones spent three seasons at North Texas.
- Senior transfer Marsell Holden scores 14.1 points per game while shooting 43.9 percent from 3-point range. Holden spent two seasons at San Jacinto Junior College before playing a season at Morehead State.
- Senior transfer Raijon Kelly adds 10.4 points per game to go along with 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per contest. Kelly spent three seasons at Samford.
- Chris Beard is in his second season at the helm of the Angelo State men's basketball program sporting a 41-11 record (.788). He is 60-21 (.741) in three seasons as a collegiate head coach including a 19-10 campaign in 2012-13 at McMurry.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State meets Angelo State for the 71st time on the hardwood Wednesday night at Junell Center.
- The Mustangs own a commanding 45-25 edge in the series which dates back to the 1965-66 season, but the  Rams have won three of the last five meetings.
- Angelo State has never swept a regular season series from Midwestern State.
- Angelo State is 20-14 all time against MSU in games played in San Angelo, but the Mustangs have won seven of the 12 games played between the programs at Junell Center.
 
LAST TIME OUT VS. ANGELO STATE
- Angelo State used a 13-3 run to break open a close game midway through the second half on the way to a 72-55 win on Jan. 21st at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- The Rams out-rebounded MSU 41-37. It's just one of two times the Mustangs have lost the battle on the boards this season.
- ASU senior Demario Mayfield dropped in a game-high 20 points and completed a double double with 11 rebounds.
- Fellow seniors Raijon Kelly (14 points), Marsell Holden (13 points) and Chris Jones (11 points) were also in double figures.
- Junior forward Khapri Alston scored 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds to lead the Mustangs, while Kevin Wagner (11 points) and Derrell Gibbs (10 points) also scored in double figures.
- MSU junior guard Bretson McNeal was held to a season low 3 points before fouling out in 16 minutes.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State is 1-2 against nationally ranked opponents this season claiming a win over No. 10 Tarleton State (78-76) then took losses to No. 11 Angelo State (72-55) and No. 12 Tarleton State (58-53).
- The Mustangs are 8-8 against nationally ranked during the Nelson Haggerty era.
- Midwestern State split a pair of Lone Star Conference games last week falling 73-60 Wednesday night at West Texas A&M before beating Eastern New Mexico 64-42 Saturday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- The Mustangs snapped a two-game skid at home which was the first time MSU dropped consecutive home games since the 2007-08 season.
- Midwestern has held opponents to fewer than 50 points four times this season including limiting Eastern New Mexico to a campaign low 42 points twice this season.
- MSU has struggled from the free throw line as a team over the past four games shooting 42-of-79 (53.1 percent).
- The Mustangs continue to rank amongst national leaders in numerous statistical categories as MSU is third in 3-point field goal defense (29.0), fifth in field goal percentage defense (38.8), fifth in total rebounds (1000.0), sixth in rebound margin (+9.8), sixth in offensive rebounds per game (15.33), seventh in total blocks (123.0) and 11th in blocked shots per game (5.1).
- Junior guard Bretson McNeal (Minneapolis, Minn. / DeLaSalle HS (North Dakota State Science)) ranks 16th in NCAA Division II in free-throw percentage (89.2), 20th in 3-point field goal percentage (45.7) and 29th in 3-pointers per game (3.0).
- McNeal knocked down four 3-pointers and now has 67 made treys this season -- the 11th most in a single season in program history.
- McNeal's 45.9 3-point field goal percentage would rank as the fourth best in school history.
- Senior guard Thad Rideau (Port Arthur, Texas / East Ascension HS (UAB)) matched season highs with five 3-pointers and 15 points Saturday against Eastern New Mexico.
- Junior guard Hershell Grant (Washington, D.C. / Roosevelt HS (Clarendon College)) road a hot start to finish with 11 points and five assists Saturday against Eastern New Mexico. It was his seventh double-figure scoring outing of the season.
- Sophomore forward Trevor Fuller (Dallas, Texas / Episcopal School (San Diego)) scored six points and grabbed four rebounds while making his first start of the season Saturday against Eastern New Mexico.
- Senior guard Kevin Wagner (Lubbock, Texas / Estacado HS (McLennan CC)) scored 10 points and dished out three assists Wednesday night against West Texas A&M before missing Saturday's game against Eastern New Mexico due to injury. It was his second straight double-figure scoring performance.
 
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 94-27 mark (.777) 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.
 
NEXT UP
Midwestern State takes on Texas A&M-Kingsville Saturday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.