Game Book (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN
STEPHENVILLE, Texas – A 12-2 run for No. 16 Tarleton State midway through the second half gave the Texans a lead they would not relinquish in a 64-56 win over Midwestern State in the Lone Star Conference opener Thursday evening at Wisdom Gym.
 
Midwestern State (6-2, 0-1 LSC) erased a 10-point deficit after the Texans took a 17-7 lead at the 9:30 mark in the first period with nine points coming from Brandon Neel, evening the contest at 20-20 with 5:08 remaining. Tarleton State (5-1, 1-0 LSC) responded with a 5-0 spurt in a 34-second span to regain the lead heading into the final media timeout.
 
A 6-0 run for the Mustangs propelled the Maroon and Gold to a 28-27 lead with 57 seconds remaining, their first lead since the 17:27 mark following a pair of Pat Smith free throws. A monster dunk from Magnus Richards off a feed from Smith just before the buzzer gave the Mustangs a 30-27 lead on the Texans at the half.
 
The Mustangs took their largest lead of the game in the first four minutes of the second period after layups by Neel, Smith and Devante Pullum gave MSU a 36-27 advantage.
 
Back-to-back triples for Ridell Camidge pulled Tarleton even with the Mustangs at 47 apiece with 9:50 remaining in the contest before stretching its lead to four following a pair of baskets for Romond Jenkins.
 
Neel brought the Mustangs within five after Tarleton took a seven-point lead with 3:49 to play but Midwestern was unable to come any closer in the final stretch with the Texans collecting the 64-56 win.

NOTES
- Brandon Neel recorded a season-high 15 points and nine rebounds to lead Midwestern State
- Magnus Richards reached double figures for the fourth time this season with 14 points while adding six rebounds and two blocks
- Pat Smith notched double digits for the fifth time with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists
- Tarleton State shot 40 percent for the game while recording an MSU opponent-best this season with eight blocks
- Ridell Camidge led the Texans with 15 points while Denzel Smith (14) and Romond Jenkins (12 pts, 13 reb) also reached double figures

STAT OF THE GAME
27.4 – Tarleton State held the Mustangs below 40 percent shooting for the first time this season with a 27.4 shooting percentage on the night

UP NEXT 
Midwestern State wraps up a four-game road stretch Saturday with a 4 p.m. tip against Texas A&M-Commerce at the A&M-Commerce Field House in Commerce.