Midwestern State vs. Cameron
Saturday, January 30, 2016 | 6 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (16-2, 5-1); Cameron (12-7, 5-2)
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM
Video: Mustangs Digital Network (PPV) 
Audio: Mustangs Digital Network (Free) 
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com  
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State and Cameron renew the Red River Rivalry Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
 
PROMOTIONS
MUSTANGS WIN, YOU WIN... With a Midwestern State win, redeem your ticket stub at Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers for a buy one, get one combo meal within 24 hours of the game.
MILITARY APPRECIATION... Midwestern State welcomes members of the 82nd Training Wing from Sheppard Air Force Base as part of Military Appreciation Night. All armed forces members will be admitted free with proper ID.
 
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
MUSTANGS, AGGIES FOR LSC LEAD... Midwestern State holds a half-game lead over Cameron heading into Saturday's contest at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Obviously, with a win, the Aggies can take sole possession of the LSC lead.
WINNING STREAK SNAPPED AT 13... Midwestern State had its 13-game winning streak snapped 91-83 in overtime Saturday at Angelo State. The streak matched the longest of the Nelson Haggerty era (since 2011) and was the second longest active streak in NCAA Division II. It was also the eighth time in program history a team had won at least 13 consecutive games.
HISTORIC NIGHT GOES UNREWARDED... MSU senior Khapri Alston posted the most rebounds of any player in NCAA Division I/II this season going for 27 points and 25 rebounds Saturday at No. 11 Angelo State. The 25 rebounds were also the most since Gary Suiter pulled down 27 rebounds against Dallas Baptist on Nov. 30, 1968 -- a mere 48 years ago. Alston's effort fell short of West Texas A&M's Jordan Evans' 30-point, 9-rebound showing in a 78-61 win at West Texas A&M for LSC Player of the Week honors.
WINNING THE SECOND HALF... Midwestern State is 15-0 this season when outscoring the opposition in the second half. Conversely, the Mustangs are 0-2 when the opponent puts up more points after intermission in losses to Colorado State-Pueblo (11/24) -- outscored 48-40 after the half -- and Angelo State (1/23) -- outscored 36-34. MSU and Ouachita Baptist played to a 37-37 draw in the second half on Dec. 19 in Arkadelphia, Ark. with the Mustangs squeezing out a 75-73 win.
DOMINATING THE GLASS... Midwestern State bounced back from losing the battle on the boards in consecutive games against Tarleton State (5th in D2 at +9.3) and Texas A&M-Commerce (6th in D2 at +9.2) to command margins of +23 against Texas A&M-Kingsville and +12 at Angelo State. The Mustangs moved back up to second in the nation with a +10.3 average margin on the glass.
 
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
- Cameron rolls into D.L. Ligon Coliseum boasting the longest winning streak in the Lone Star Conference at three games which is also matched by West Texas A&M.
- The Aggies have been strong on the road this season winning seven of 10 games on the opponent's home floor. Oddly, Cameron split games in each of its three classics this season beating the host team and falling in the neutral contest.
- Cameron is 2-1 against nationally ranked opposition this season boasting wins over No. 5 Drury (Mo.) (72-70/Nov. 27) and No. 11 Angelo State (80-79/Jan. 20) while falling at No. 9 Tarleton State (71-61/Jan. 2).
- Senior Jamaal Brantley leads a quartet of Aggies averaging in double figures scoring 14.9 points while grabbing a team-best 6.8 rebounds a game from his forward position.
- Brantley scored 10-or-more points in each of his last five games including a season-best 27-point effort at Eastern New Mexico.
- Senior guard Cameron Lee scores 13.8 points a game and has notched double figures in each of CU's seven LSC games.
- Reigning Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week Deondre Ray recorded consecutive double-doubles in wins over Angelo State (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (14 points, 10 rebounds) last week to up his season averages 12.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
- Redshirt-freshman guard J.V. Long scores 11 points and dishes out 3.6 assists per game. He is coming off of two of his best offensive outings of the season with 18 points against Angelo State and 17 at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
- Cameron coach Nate Gamet can match his season-best win total with a win over Midwestern State on Saturday. He is 36-37 in his third season at the helm for the Aggies.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Cameron renew the Red River Rivalry for the 70th time Saturday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- The Mustangs own a commanding 45-24 edge in the series which dates back to the 1968-69 season.
- Midwestern has won 14 of its last 16 against the Aggies dating back to the 2006-07 season, but Cameron won the last matchup knocking the Mustangs out of last season's LSC Postseason Tournament in the first round 87-84 on March 5, 2015 in Allen.
- MSU is 29-4 all-time against Cameron in games played at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- The Mustangs have won the last nine games between the rivals under the dome and 17 of the last 18 dating back to the 1990-91 season. Cameron's lone win during the stretch came by a 79-69 count on Dec. 5, 2002.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
IN THE POLLS... Midwestern State dropped two spots to No. 6 in this week's National Association of Basketball Coaches' Top 25. The Mustangs checked in at No. 3 while receiving a first-place vote in the D2 Media Poll.
REGIONAL RANKINGS... The NCAA Division II Basketball Committee is set for the first of three regional ranking releases on Wednesday, Feb. 17 with the other two to follow on Feb. 24 and March 1. Team selections and bracket announcement is set for Sunday, March 6. The top eight teams from each of the eight regions advance to the postseason play. Regional championship tournaments are set for campus sites from March 12-15. The 2016 Elite Eight is set for March 23-26 at Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas.
WORKING OVERTIME... Midwestern State dropped its first overtime game of the of the 2015-16 season falling 91-83 to No. 11 Angelo State Saturday at Junell Center. The Mustangs have lost their last two OT games now after dropping an 87-84 result to Cameron in the first round of the LSC Postseason Tournament in Allen, but have fared quite well in OT during the Nelson Haggerty era. MSU is 8-3 in extra periods since the start of the 2011-12 campaign.
RAINING THREES... Midwestern State leads the Lone Star Conference in 3-point percentage during league play knocking down 42.9 percent of shots from beyond the arc. The Mustangs, who are the only team shooting better than 40 percent, are paced by senior guard Bretson McNeal. McNeal has drained 58.3 percent of his shots from beyond the arc knocking down 14-of-24 from beyond the arc. Junior Sheldon Hagigal is shooting 42.9 percent (9-for-21) while Brandon Golden is at 38.7 percent (12-of-31) and Jordan Stevens is at 37.9 percent (11-of-29).
DOING IT AND DOING IT WELL... The Mustangs rank amongst national leaders in numerous categories this season ranking second in rebound margin (+10.2), second in blocked shots per game (6.5), second in total blocks (117.0), third in field goal percentage defense (37.3), fifth in scoring margin (+18.3), sixth in defensive rebounds (31.17), 12th in total rebounds 808.0) and 23rd in 3-point field goal percentage (40.2).
DENIED... Midwestern State ranks among the elite (2nd) in NCAA Division II swatting 6.5 shots per game. The Mustangs matched a season high with 12 blocked shots against Texas A&M-Kingsville last week also blocking 12 against Oklahoma City in the season opener.
 
MSU PROBABLE STARTERS
Bretson McNeal | G | SR | Minneapolis, Minn. / North Dakota State Science
PPG: 12.9 | REB: 3.9 | AST: 2.0
- Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year.
- started each of MSU's 18 games.
- leads LSC and ranks ninth in NCAA Division II in 3-point field goal percentage knocking down 50 percent of his shots from the arc.
- connected on at least three 3-pointers in 10 games this season.
- on a tear from the arc knocking down 13 of 20 over his last four games (65 percent).
 
Jordan Stevens | G | SR | Columbia, Mo. / Duquesne
PPG: 15.4 | REB: 3.1 | AST: 3.7
- Division I transfer from Duquesne.
-  started in 17 of 18 games this season.
- ranks sixth in the LSC in scoring at 15.4 points per game and fifth in assists at 3.7.
- explosive scorer has scored 20-or-more points in five games this season including a 31-point effort against Eastern New Mexico (1/9).
- ranks among national leaders in free throw percentage at 91.5 percent.
- has 13 assists and two turnovers over last 69 minutes of court time.
 
Hershell Grant | G | SR | Washington, D.C. / Clarendon College
PPG: 7.5 | REB: 3.4 | AST: 2.1
- strong hoops blood lines. Nephew of former NBA standouts Horace and Harvey Grant. Cousins also played collegiate basketball with Jerian Grant (Notre Dame/New York Knicks), Jerai Grant (Clemson) and Jerami Grant (Syracuse/Philadelphia 76ers).
- shooting 54.2 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from 3-point range and 71 percent from the free throw line.
- top defender has scored in double figures five times this season including a season 18 points against St. Gregory's (1/2).
 
Trevor Fuller | F | JR | Dallas, Texas / University of San Diego
PPG: 5.4 | REB: 4.8 | BLK: 2.7
- son of former San Francisco 49er strong safety Jeff Fuller (1984-89) whose grandfather - Cincy Powell - played pro basketball in the ABA. His brother - Jeff, Jr. - enjoyed a stellar collegiate football career as a receiver at Texas A&M before playing professionally with the Miami Dolphins and Calgary Stampeders.
- Fuller ranks amongst the best rim protectors in college basketball swatting 2.72 shots per game to rank seventh in NCAA Division II.
- shooting 71.4 percent from the floor with 25 dunks this season.
 
Khapri Alston | F | SR | Chicago, Ill. / Northeast CC (Neb.)
PPG: 13.2 | REB: 10.1 | BLK: 1.1 | STL: 1.2
- leads the Lone Star Conference in rebounding.
- boasts seven point/rebound double-doubles but has finished four other games with double figure points and nine rebounds.
- erupted for career highs with 27 points and 25 rebounds against No. 11 Angelo State on Jan. 23 at Junell Center. The 25 rebounds are the most in a single game in both NCAA Divisions I and II this season. The rebound total is the sixth highest in a single game in MSU program history and the most since original Cleveland Cavalier Gary Suiter snagged 27 against Dallas Baptist on Nov. 30, 1968.
- scored in double figures in 15 games this season.
- pulled down a then-season high 14 rebounds against Tarleton State.
- active on defense with 21 steals and 19 blocked shots.
- averaging a team-high 14.2 points and 13.2 rebounds in 28.8 minutes per game during Lone Star Conference play.
 
TOP RESERVES
Brandon Golden | G | SR | Austin, Texas / McMurry
PPG: 8.9 | REB: 2.9 | AST: 0.6
- notched a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds in first start at MSU in place of the injured Hershell Grant against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Jan. 20.
- knocked down six 3-pointers to score a season-high 20 points while pulling down five rebounds against St. Gregory's (1/2).
- splashed in four 3-pointers to finish with 16 points in a 77-71 win over No. 3 Bellarmine (Ky.) (11/27).
- shooting 40 percent from 3-point range.
- came on strong during Lone Star Conference play pulling averages of 10.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 38.7 percent from 3-point range.
 
Sheldon Hagigal | G | JR | Old Westbury, N.Y. / Trinity Valley CC
PPG: 8.5 | REB: 1.9 | AST: 1.4
- gives MSU a scoring punch off of the bench notching 10-or-more points in seven games this season.
- poured in season-high 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting with two 3-pointers in a 74-65 win at West Texas A&M (1/6).
- shooting 37.7 percent from 3-point range.
- has knocked down a triple in each of his last six games.
 
DeVaughn Jones | F | SR | District Heights, Md. / Lackawanna College
PPG: 6.4 | REB: 4.2
- top big off of the bench for MSU.
- scored in double figures five times this season.
- went a perfect 7-for-7 from the field to finish with a season-high 17 points while pulling down six rebounds against Colorado State-Pueblo (11/24).
- snagged season-best eight rebounds against Southern Indiana (11/28).
 
Pat Smith | G | JR | Houston, Texas / Jones HS
PPG: 4.2 | REB: 1.6 | AST: 3.1
- enjoying a breakout season as the top reserve point guard.
- tallied career-high 11 points while dishing out four assists in a 66-63 win over Tarleton State (1/13).
- dished out at least four assists on six occasions including a season-high 10 against St. Gregory's (1/2).
 
Magnus Richards | F | JR | Silver Spring, Md. / Binghamton
PPG: 2.9 | REB: 2.6
- Division I transfer from Binghamton has played in each of MSU's 17 games this season.
- scored matching season highs of seven points against St. Mary's (Texas) (12/1) and St. Gregory's (1/2).
- pulled down campaign best six boards against Oklahoma Science and Arts (12/31).
 
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 113-32 mark (.779) 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 tips off the second half of Lone Star Conference play against rival Tarleton State Wednesday night at Wisdom Gym in Stephenville. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.