Game Book (PDF)

THE RUNDOWN
COMMERCE, Texas – A season-high 23 turnovers doomed Midwestern State in a 72-61 road loss to Texas A&M-Commerce as the Lions turned MSU's miscues into 29 points Saturday evening at the A&M-Commerce Field House.
 
Texas A&M-Commerce (7-1, 1-1 LSC) used an 11-3 run to take its largest lead of the first half at 14-7 after four-straight points from Jovan Austin just over six minutes into the contest. Jumpers for Brandon Neel, Devante Pullum and Igor Ibaka brought the Mustangs within a point midway through the half before De'Andre Carson connected for his third triple of the period to stop the MSU run for a 17-13 TAMUC lead.
 
A three-pointer for Pat Smith followed by an Ibaka jumper gave Midwestern State (6-3, 0-2 LSC) its first lead of the game since the 18:02 mark at 18-17 with just over eight minutes left in the half. 
 
It was a close contest the remainder of the half with a pair of Neel free throws giving the Mustangs a 30-28 lead before the Lions ended the half on an 8-2 run in the final 1:11 for a 36-32 halftime lead.
 
The Lions extended their lead to six early in the second half before a monster dunk for Magnus Richards and a Smith layup brought the Mustangs within a basket at 42-40 five minutes into the period. A&M-Commerce answered with a 12-3 run over the next 4:11 to take a 54-43 advantage following an Austin jumper with 10:31 remaining.
 
Midwestern State pulled within six points twice in the final stretch with Neel scoring five-straight points for MSU in a 24-second span for a 64-58 game with 2:52 to play. However, the Mustangs were unable to come any closer in the final three minutes with the Lions coming away with the victory. 
 
NOTES
- Pat Smith and Brandon Neel each totaled 14 points and seven rebounds to lead Midwestern State
- Igor Ibaka and Devante Pullum also reached double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively
- Magnus Richards recorded a career-high five blocks while adding eight points and seven boards
- Midwestern State posted a season-best six blocks
- The Mustangs were held below 40 percent shooting for the second-straight game at a 38.1 percent shooting clip while committing a season-high 23 turnovers
- Midwestern State fell to 0-2 in conference play for the first time since the 2007-08 season
- The 11-point defeat was the first double-digit conference loss for the Mustangs since Feb. 18, 2015
- Texas A&M-Commerce owned a 38-4 advantage in bench points with Trey Washington leading the Lions with 14 points off the bench
- The Lions shot 44.4 percent from the floor while going 15-of-17 from the charity stripe

STAT OF THE GAME
29 – Texas A&M-Commerce scored 29 points off Midwestern State's season-high 23 turnovers

UP NEXT 
Midwestern State begins a five-game homestand Thursday at 7:30 p.m. against No. 14 Angelo State at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.