Midwestern State vs. West Texas A&M
Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2015 | 7:30 p.m.
Records: Midwestern State (18-5, 7-2); West Texas A&M (14-9, 4-5)
Video: GoBuffsGo.com 
Radio: ESPN 95.5
Audio: MSUMustangs.com 
Live Stats: GoBuffsGo.com 
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State takes on West Texas A&M in a Lone Star Conference and Highway 287 Challenge Cup battle Wednesday night at First United Bank Center. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
SCOUTING THE BUFFALOES
- West Texas A&M has won three of its last four and is coming off of a 74-68 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville Saturday night in Canyon.
- Each of WT's 74 points against Texas A&M-Kingsville was scored by a starter.
- West Texas A&M's bench has accounted for fewer than 10 points of production in five of its last six games.
- The Buffs boast a 10-3 mark at First United Bank Center this season.
- WT's motion offense has helped the Buffs rank 19th in NCAA Division II in turnover margin (+4.3) and 21st with 9.3 3-point field goals per game.
- Freshman guard David Chavlovich ranks ninth in total 3-point field goals made (179.0) and is 14th in 3-point field goals made per game (3.23) in NCAA Division II.
- Chavlovich pours in 15.8 points per game while shooting 39.7 percent from the 3-point range. He is averaging 16.9 points per game over his last seven outings since being held to a season low six points by Angelo State on Jan. 14.
- Senior guard Tez Dumars averages a team-high 16 points per game and is averaging nearly five made free throws a game.
- Dumars is coming off of a 25-point effort Saturday against Texas A&M-Kingsville going 7-for-10 from the field and 10-of-11 from the charity stripe.
- Senior guard Miles Gatewood chips in 14 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. He scored in double figures in each of his last five games.
- Gatewood has hit at least two 3-pointers in each of his last five games while connecting on 13-of-31 of his shots (41.9 percent) from beyond the arc during the stretch.
- Senior guard Antjuan Ball sports averages of 12.3 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game. He notched his fourth double-double of the season going for 10 points and 12 rebounds Saturday against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
- Tom Brown is in his first year at the helm of the West Texas A&M men's basketball program after serving as a long time assistant at his alma mater -- Winona State (Minn.).
- Brown becomes the fourth Tom Brown to serve as a head men's basketball coach in the NCAA. Men by the same name coached at Catawba (1937-42), Northwood (Mich.) (1963-67) and Lee (Tenn.) (2005-present).
- Interestingly, Midwestern State graduate Tom Brown served as a women's soccer head coach at Sterling (Kan.), William Carey, Angelo State and Sam Houston State from 1993-present. Brown earned soccer letters at MSU in 1986 and 1987.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State meets West Texas A&M for the 64th time on the hardwood Wednesday night at First United Bank Center.
- The Buffs own a 34-29 advantage in the series which dates back to the 1947-48 season, but MSU has claimed the last five meetings in the series.
- The Mustangs are looking for an unprecedented third consecutive win in Canyon.
- WT is 24-8 all time against Midwestern in games played in Canyon and is 9-3 against MSU at First United Bank Center.
- The Buffs' last victory over MSU came by a 60-56 count on Feb. 22, 2012 at First United Bank Center.
 
LAST TIME OUT VS. WEST TEXAS A&M
- Midwestern State dominated the glass by a +20 margin and limited West Texas A&M to 34.4 percent shooting to roll to a 73-58 win on Jan. 7 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- MSU junior forward Khapri Alston (18 points, 11 rebounds) and senior forward Xavier Blackburn (17 points, 12 rebounds) went for double-doubles while senior forward Abiodun Adegoke had 13 points and six boards.
- Miles Gatewood and Tez Dumars scored 16 and 12 points, respectively, to lead the Buffs.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
- Midwestern State split a pair of Lone Star Conference games falling to Tarleton State Wednesday at home before rebounding for a road win at Texas A&M-Commerce.
- The home loss to Tarleton State marks 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.
- The Mustangs shot a season worst 26.7 percent from the free throw line Wednesday night against Tarleton State after connecting on 34-of-45 (75.6 percent) over its previous two games.
- Midwestern improved to 2-0 in overtime games taking an 85-83 win Saturday at Texas A&M-Commerce. The Mustangs also claimed a 90-83 double-overtime victory over Lynn (Fla.) on Dec. 15, 2014.
- MSU has committed 20-or-more fouls in each of its last six games surrendering an average of 29.3 opponent free throw attempts per game.
- 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).
- Junior guard Bretson McNeal (Minneapolis, Minn. / DeLaSalle HS (North Dakota State Science)) notched his first double-double of the season finishing with 25 points and 11 rebounds Saturday at Texas A&M-Commerce.
- McNeal has scored 20-or-more points eight times this season while connected on five-or-more 3-pointers on five occasions.
- Junior guard Hershell Grant (Washington, D.C. / Roosevelt HS (Clarendon College)) averaged 5.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in games against Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Commerce last week.
- Senior forward Xavier Blackburn (Verdunville, La. / St. Thomas More HS (North Dakota State Science)) erupted for a season-high 21 points and pulled down eight rebounds Wednesday against Tarleton State.
- Senior guard Derrell Gibbs (Wichita Falls, Texas / Burkburnett HS) knocked down three 3-pointers while shooting 5-of-8 from the field to finish with 16 points Saturday at Texas A&M-Commerce. It was his sixth double-digit scoring effort of the season.
- Senior guard Kevin Wagner (Lubbock, Texas / Estacado HS (McLennan CC)) scored a season-high 13 points going 7-for-8 from the charity stripe while grabbing a campaign-best eight rebounds Saturday at Texas A&M-Commerce.
- Junior forward Khapri Alston (Chicago, Ill. / Thornwood HS (Northeast CC (Neb.))) averaged 9.5 points and 7.0 rebounds last week against Tarleton State and Texas A&M-Commerce.
 
THE HIGHWAY 287 CHALLENGE CUP SERIES
- Midwestern State and West Texas A&M began the series heading into last season with the Buffs claiming the first season by a 13-12 margin.
- The Mustangs hold a 7-5 edge thus far in 2014-15.
 
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 93-26 mark (.782) 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 Eastern New Mexico in a Lone Star Conference matchup Saturday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.