Game Book (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Brandon Neel's season-high 19 points led Midwestern State to its first Lone Star Conference win of the season and 19th-straight victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville in a 73-68 triumph Monday evening at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
Devante Pullum scored five of Midwestern State's (8-4, 1-3 LSC) first 10 points of the game to give the Mustangs a 10-4 advantage before the Javelinas knocked down four three-pointers to even the contest at 16-16 midway through the first half.
 
Caelan Neal and Duan Wright combined for all eight of Texas A&M-Kingsville's (7-4, 0-2 LSC) points in an 8-0 run to break a 21-all contest with 6:38 remaining. The Mustangs cut their deficit in half in the final three minutes of the period with baskets from Magnus Richards and Nick Powell pulling Midwestern to within four at 35-31 at the break.
 
A three-pointer for Pat Smith with 17:52 remaining gave the Mustangs their first lead in over 13 minutes at 38-36 before the Javelinas answered right back with a pair of triples to claim a four-point lead. TAMUK matched its largest lead of the game at eight midway through the second half following a layup by Christian Bambrook.
 
Igor Ibaka scored five-straight points to help the Mustangs pull within one of the Javelinas less than two minutes later before he evened the game at 58 apiece following a tip-in with 6:36 to play.

A Richards dunk capped off a 12-0 MSU run to give the Mustangs their largest lead of the game at 66-58 with 3:57 to play. The Javelinas answered with a pair of three-pointers from Trey Sumpter to pull within a basket before Ibaka halted the run with another tip-in for a 68-64 score with 2:48 remaining.
 
TAMUK came within a possession on two occasions in the final minute but Ibaka and Pullum knocked down free throws to help Midwestern come away with the victory.

NOTES
- Midwestern State extended its win streak over Texas A&M-Kingsville to 19 games, last falling to the Javelinas on Feb. 16, 2008 in a 78-63 defeat in Kingsville 
- The Mustangs shot over 40 percent for the 10th time this season with a 40.3 percentage from the floor
- MSU totaled its third-most trips to the charity stripe this season, going 19-of-25 for 76 percent
- Midwestern State led 38-24 in points in the paint and 21-8 in second chance points
- Brandon Neel scored in double figures for the sixth-straight game and eighth time this season with 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting
- Devante Pullum added 14 points for his fourth double-figure scoring performance of the season while posting five rebounds and a team-high five assists
- Magnus Richards also reached double figures with 13 points for his sixth double-digit outing of the year, and narrowly missed his first career double-double with a career-best nine rebounds while adding four blocks to his stat line
- Igor Ibaka posted his third-straight double-double and fifth of the season with 10 points and 10 boards
- Texas A&M-Kingsville managed just 32.9 percent shooting for the night, the fourth MSU opponent to shoot under 35 percent this season
- The Javelinas' 11 three-pointers were the second most for an MSU opponent this season behind Adams State's 13 triples on Nov. 14
- TAMUK's 10 trips to the free-throw line were the second fewest for an MSU opponent, but the Javelinas managed an impressive 9-of-10 from the charity stripe
- Marcus Frazier led the Javelinas with 14 points and four steals in just 20 minutes of action off the bench while Trey Sumpter scored 13 points and Caelan Neal added 12 points and nine rebounds  

STAT OF THE GAME
19 – Brandon Neel recorded a season-high 19 points to lead Midwestern State

UP NEXT 
Midwestern State takes a 17-day Christmas break before playing host to West Texas A&M and UT Permian Basin on Jan. 5th and 7th, respectively.