COMMERCE, Texas – No. 4/2 Midwestern State shot 57.1 percent from three-point range with 12 triples while adding 18 points off turnovers to snap Texas A&M-Commerce's 11-game home win streak and match its best start in program history with an 84-69 win Saturday night at A&M-Commerce Field House.

With the win, Midwestern State improved to 15-1 overall and 4-0 in the Lone Star Conference, last achieving that start back in the 2009-10 season when the Mustangs went 22-1 with their first trip to the NCAA Elite Eight.

The Mustangs also recorded their 17th win in the last 18 meetings over Texas A&M-Commerce (12-4, 2-2 LSC).

Senior guard Bretson McNeal and senior post Khapri Alston each tallied a team-high 18 points with Alston also recording a team-best nine boards. McNeal led MSU from deep, shooting 4-of-6 from behind the arc. Junior guard Sheldon Hagigal and senior guard Brandon Golden also reached double figures with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

MSU shot 4-of-5 from three-point range to open the game, taking a 12-8 lead over the Lions just over four minutes into the contest. The Mustangs remained hot from outside for the entire first half, finishing 6-of-9 from behind the arc for the period.

A&M-Commerce attempted to trim its deficit down but an MSU triple killed the Lions momentum. The Lions crept within six at 21-15 before Hagigal connected on a trey to push the MSU lead back to 24-15 midway through the half.

A jumper by McNeal gave the Mustangs their first double-digit lead of the game with 8:33 to play in the half for a 28-17 advantage. A&M-Commerce pulled back within six points in the final minutes of the half before the Mustangs recorded their largest lead of the half at 12 following a free throw by Alston at 41-29.

The Mustangs established their defensive presence down low in the opening minutes of the second half by recording four blocks with three coming from junior post Trevor Fuller.

MSU put together a 9-0 run in a two and a half minute stretch that was capped off by a layup from senior guard Jordan Stevens to claim a 54-35 advantage with 16:26 to play.
A three-pointer from senior guard Brandon Golden gave the Mustangs their largest lead of the game at 21 with 14:02 left on the clock. The Lions then began to trim away their deficit, going on an 18-9 run spurt to make it a 66-54 contest with 7:27 remaining after a jumper from senior forward Everett Pleasant, who led the Lions with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

MSU only allowed A&M-Commerce back within 12 as the Mustangs stretched their lead back up to 20 following a McNeal jumper before recording the 84-69 victory.

A&M-Commerce finished with a 44.3 shooting percentage (27-of-61) while the Mustangs shot 44.2 (34-of-77) from the floor.

Midwestern State returns home for a 7:30 p.m. Wednesday tipoff against Texas A&M-Kingsville at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.