Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Commerce
Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015 | 6 p.m.
A&M-Commerce Fieldhouse | Commerce, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (17-5, 6-2); Texas A&M-Commerce (16-5, 5-3)
Video: LionAthletics.com  
Radio: ESPN 95.5
Audio: MSUMustangs.com 
Live Stats: LionAthletics.com 

ON THE COURT
Midwestern State takes on Texas A&M-Commerce in a crucial Lone Star Conference matchup Saturday night at the A&M-Commerce Fieldhouse. The Mustangs can put a wedge between the top three teams and the fourth by moving two games up on fourth-place A&M-Commerce with a road victory over the Lions.

SCOUTING THE LIONS
- Texas A&M-Commerce snapped a two-game skid with a 76-71 victory Saturday night at Cameron to improve to 16-5 on the season and 5-3 in Lone Star Conference play.
- The Lions suffered their first home loss of the season last Wednesday to Tarleton State (77-73) and are now 18-2 at the A&M-Commerce Fieldhouse over the past two seasons.
- Texas A&M-Commerce ranks amongst national leaders in numerous categories leading the nation in defensive rebounds per game (30.14) and is seventh in field goal percentage defense (38.8), 10th in total rebounds (900.0) and 10th in free throws made (421.0).
- Senior forward Darrell Williams rates fifth in the nation in total rebounds (244.0) and double-doubles (13.0), is sixth in rebounds per game (11.6) and eighth in defensive rebounds a game (3.48).
- Williams, who averages 16.9 points per game, has scored 20-or-more points nine times this season including 20 against Midwestern State earlier this season.
- Senior forward LaDon Carnegie pours in 16.3 points per game while pulling down 4.7 boards. He has scored in double figures in each of his last three games and is coming off of a 16-point effort Saturday at Cameron.
- Junior point guard Anthony Adams chips in 11.7 poinrs per game while shooting 42 percent from 3-point range. He directs the Lions' attack dishing out a team-best 4.3 assists per game.
- Senior forward Christian Macauley is coming off of back-to-back 20-point efforts going for a season-high 21 points against Tarleton State before wrapping up his second double-double of the season with 20 points and 10 rebounds Wednesday night at Cameron.
- Sam Walker boasts a 241-177 record (.577) in his 15th season at the helm of the Texas A&M-Commerce men's basketball program.

ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Commerce meet for the 83rd time on the hardwood Saturday night at the A&M-Commerce Fieldhouse.
- The Mustangs own a 51-31 edge in the third longest running series in school history which dates back to the 1947-48 season.
- Midwestern State has won the last five meetings between the programs and 15 of the last 16 dating back to the 2005-06 season with the Lions' only win coming by a 74-66 count on Jan. 9, 2013 in Commerce.
- Texas A&M-Commerce is 20-17 all time against MSU in games played at Commerce.

LAST TIME OUT VS. TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE
- Midwestern State senior Tavarion Nix splashed in a career-high 15 points and Xavier Blackburn pitched in a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds to lift the Mustangs to  a 61-57 win over Texas A&M-Commerce on Jan. 3 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- The Mustangs out-rebounded A&M-Commerce 54-39 on the way to a 19-8 advantage in second chance points.
- Darrell Williams came off of the bench to score 20 points and pull down 10 rebounds to lead the Lions while LaDon Carnegie had 13 points and dished out four assists.

MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State dropped its second straight home game Wednesday night falling to Tarleton State 58-53.
- It was the first time MSU lost two consecutive games on its home floor since falling to Tarleton State (62-54) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (82-72) on Jan. 16 and 19, 2008.
- Midwestern State shot a season worst 26.7 percent from the free throw line Wednesday night against Cameron after connecting on 34-of-45 (75.6 percent) over its previous two games.
- The Mustangs continue to rank amongst national leaders in numerous categories as MSU is fourth in NCAA Division II in field goal percentage defense (38.4), fourth in 3-point field goal defense (29.3), sixth in total blocks (118.0), seventh in rebound margin (+9.6), eighth in blocked shots per game (5.4), eighth in total rebounds (909.0) and ninth in offensive rebounds per game (15.18).
- Senior forward Xavier Blackburn (Verdunville, La. / St. Thomas More HS (North Dakota State Science)) poured in a season-high 21 points to go along with eight rebounds Wednesday against Tarleton State while matching a season high with three 3-pointers.
- Senior guard Bretson McNeal (Minneapolis, Minn. / DeLaSalle HS (North Dakota State Science)) was limited to five points while fighting through foul problems in 13 minutes against Tarleton State. He had scored 50 points over his previous two outings connecting on 11-of-18 shots from beyond the arc.
- Senior guard Derrell Gibbs (Wichita Falls, Texas / Burkburnett HS) scored two points against Tarleton State a game after erupting for five 3-pointers on his way to a career-high 21 points at Cameron.
- Senior guard Kevin Wagner (Lubbock, Texas / Estacado HS (McLennan CC)) scored seven points -- all in the second half -- Wednesday against Tarleton State.
- Junior forward Khapri Alston (Chicago, Ill. / Thornwood HS (Northeast CC (Neb.))) battled his way for seven points and seven rebounds in 21 minutes Wednesday night against Tarleton State.

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 92-26 mark (.780) 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 and West Texas A&M resume The Highway 287 Challenge Cup series Wednesday night in Canyon. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the First United Bank Center.