Game Book (PDF)

CANYON, Texas – Senior post Khapri Alston recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds and junior guard Sheldon Hagigal netted a season-high 17 points as No. 6/2 Midwestern State earned a 74-65 victory over West Texas A&M in the Lone Star Conference opener Wednesday evening at First United Bank Center.

Midwestern State (12-1, 1-0 LSC) overcame 19 turnovers by shooting 50 percent (24-of-48) from the floor while holding West Texas A&M (11-6, 0-2 LSC) to a 35.3 percentage (24-of-68).

Turnovers hurt the Mustangs throughout the opening 20 minutes of action with MSU committing 13 miscues. However, MSU was able to hang close with the home team, shooting 40.0 percent (10-of-25) in the opening period.

West Texas A&M connected on 53.3 percent (8-of-15) from behind the arc in the first half for most of the period.

WT opened up a tight contest midway through the first half after sophomore guard David Chavlovich netted five-straight points, capping off the run with a three-pointer to give the Buffs a 17-11 lead with 13:15 to play in the period.

WT pushed its lead to as many as nine points after another Chavlovich triple midway through the half before back-to-back three-pointers from junior guards Pat Smith and Sheldon Hagigal brought the Mustangs within three at 24-21 with 7:59 to play.

The Buffs stretched their lead to seven once again before taking a 36-31 lead into halftime.

An 11-0 run early in the second period gave the Mustangs their first lead since the 17:15 mark in the first half. MSU received offensive contributions from four different Mustangs during the spurt with senior forward DeVaughn Jones capping off the run with a jumper for a 45-41 lead with 14:20 remaining.

A layup by WT senior guard Jeff Bonner evened the contest up at 49-all with 9:26 remaining in the game after the Mustangs held a lead for nearly a six-minute stretch.

Momentum switched to the home team a few minutes later as WT took a 57-52 lead with 6:35 to play after back-to-back three-pointers from sophomore guard Jordan Evans.

However, the Mustangs answered with their second 11-0 spurt as a pair of free throws by senior guard Bretson McNeal put MSU on top 63-57 with 3:39 remaining in the game.

MSU only allowed the Buffs to get back within three the rest of the way before recording the 74-65 victory.

Alston also matched a season-high three blocks along with his 13 rebounds. Hagigal finished 6-of-7 from the field including 2-of-2 from long range. McNeal also reached double figures for the 10th time this season with 10 points.

Evans led the Buffs with 20 points, shooting 6-of-12 from three-point range.

Midwestern State returns Saturday to D.L. Ligon Coliseum for a 6 p.m. tipoff against Eastern New Mexico in the Mustangs' Lone Star Conference home opener.