Midwestern State vs. Eastern New Mexico
Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016 | 5 p.m. (Central Time)
Records: Midwestern State (17-5, 6-4); Eastern New Mexico (6-16, 2-8)
Video: GoEasternAthletics.com (PPV) 
Audio: Mustangs Digital Network (Free) 
Live Stats: GoEasternAthletics.com 
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State hits the road to take on Eastern New Mexico Saturday afternoon at Greyhound Arena in Portales. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. (Central Time).
 
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
TIGHT LSC RACE... Midwestern State is tied for third place, but is just one game in the loss column behind LSC-leading Cameron (7-3). West Texas A&M is in second at 7-4 followed by MSU and Angelo State at 6-4.
CHASING 20 WINS... Midwestern State is three wins away from amassing 20 for the eighth straight season dating back to the 2008-09 season. The Mustangs advanced to the NCAA postseason in each of the previous seven season amassing a 195-54 record (.783).
MUSTANGS SNAP SKID... Midwestern State ended its four-game losing streak with an 84-75 win over West Texas A&M Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The streak was the longest since MSU lost four consecutive games from Jan. 17-28, 2006.
WINNING IN PORTALES... Midwestern State has won in eight of its last nine trips to Portales dating back to the 2006-07 with the only loss coming on Jan. 14, 2012 (80-72) which was the first loss of the Nelson Haggerty era which started with 13 consecutive wins. MSU boasts an average margin of victory of 13.8 in the wins which also includes a pair of 2-point victories.
ROAD WARRIORS... Midwestern State won its first seven games away from D.L. Ligon Coliseum this season before dropping consecutive games to Angelo State (91-83 in OT) and Tarleton State (66-65).
 
SCOUTING THE GREYHOUNDS
- Eastern New Mexico is winless in six games on the road during Lone Star Conference play, but has fared much better at Greyhound Arena. ENMU claimed wins in its last two home games beating Texas A&M-Commerce (72-60) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (74-71) after letting an 8-point lead with 71 seconds remaining get away against Angelo State as the Rams stormed back for 70-68 win on Jan. 16.
- Senior guard John Gilliam leads the 'Hounds scoring 16 points per game but has missed the last six games. He appeared in consecutive contests against Texas A&M-Kingsville and Angelo State on Jan. 13 and 16 after sitting out the previous seven.
- Senior forward Lawrence Domingo scores 11.5 points per game while pulling down 8.1 rebounds. He has scored in double figures 15 times this season with five double-doubles including a 15-point, 12-rebound effort earlier this season against MSU.
- Sophomore guard Javaan Mumtaz has come on strong during league play scoring 20-or-more points four times. He has splashed 3-or-more triples 10 times this season including a campaign-best seven in a 25-point out against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Feb. 3. Mumtaz was held scoreless going 0-for-3 from the field in the ENMU's first meeting with the Mustangs.
- Sophomore guard Ladarius Stewart drops in 10.7 points per game to go along with 5.4 rebounds. He scored 10-or-more points in 10 games this season including a high of 24 points against West Texas A&M on Jan. 30.
- Stott Carter has posted a 13-37 mark (.260) in his second season at the helm at Eastern New Mexico.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Eastern New Mexico meet for the 45th time on the hardwood Saturday afternoon at Greyhound Arena.
- The Mustangs own a 29-15 edge in the series which dates back to the 1948-49 season.
- MSU has won the last eight meetings between the programs and 17 of the last 18 dating back to the 2006-07 season with the Hounds' lone win coming by an 80-72 count on Jan. 14, 2012.
-The Mustangs are 12-9 all-time against the Greyhounds in Portales and have won the last three and eight of the last nine on ENMU's home floor going back to the 2006-07 season.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
IN THE POLLS... Midwestern State slipped 14 spots to No. 25 in both the National Association of Basketball Coaches' (NABC) and D2 Media polls. The Mustangs ranked as high as No. 4 this season in the NABC D2 Poll and were No. 1 for one week 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.
RAINING THREES... Midwestern State leads the Lone Star Conference in 3-point percentage during league play knocking down 39.1 percent of shots from beyond the arc. The Mustangs are paced by senior guard Bretson McNeal. McNeal has drained 46.7 percent of his shots from beyond the arc knocking down 21-of-45 shots from distance during league play. Junior Sheldon Hagigal is shooting 39.4 percent (13-for-33) while Brandon Golden is at 36.4 percent (12-of-33) and Jordan Stevens is at 37.5 percent (21-of-56).
DOING IT AND DOING IT WELL... The Mustangs rank amongst national leaders in numerous categories this season ranking second in blocked shots per game (6.5), second in total blocks (143.0), fifth in field goal percentage defense (38.7), sixth in scoring margin (+15.0), ninth in defensive rebounds (29.77) and 13th in rebound margin (+7.7).
 
MSU PROBABLE STARTERS
Bretson McNeal | G | SR | Minneapolis, Minn. / North Dakota State Science
PPG: 12.5 | REB: 3.7 | AST: 1.9  | STL: 1.9
- Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year.
- started each of MSU's 22 games.
- leads LSC knocking down 46.8 percent of his shots from the arc.
- connected on at least three 3-pointers in 11 games this season.
- blistered the nets for a 20-of-33 clip (60.6 percent) over a six-game stretch from Jan. 13-Feb. 3.
- scored 10-or-more points in 16 games this season including a campaign-high 22 in the season opener against Oklahoma City.
- leads Lone Star Conference with 42 steals this season (1.9 per game).
- made a season-high six steals against Texas A&M-Commerce (2/6).
 
Jordan Stevens | G | SR | Columbia, Mo. / Duquesne
PPG: 15.5 | REB: 3.3 | AST: 3.6
- Division I transfer from Duquesne.
-  started in 21 of 22 games this season.
- ranks sixth in the LSC in scoring at 15.5 points per game and sixth in assists at 3.6.
- explosive scorer has scored 20-or-more points in six games this season including a 31-point effort against Eastern New Mexico (1/9).
- erupted for 28 points on 10-of-19 shooting with three 3-pointers in a win over West Texas A&M (2/10).
- ranks among national leaders in free throw percentage at 87.7 percent.
 
Hershell Grant | G | SR | Washington, D.C. / Clarendon College
PPG: 6.8 | REB: 3.8 | AST: 2.0
- 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 48.6 percent from the field, 35.1 percent from 3-point range and 71.8 percent from the free throw line.
- top defender has scored in double figures six times this season including a season 18 points against St. Gregory's (1/2).
- came off of the bench to score 13 points and pull down a season-high eight rebounds against Cameron (1/30).
 
Trevor Fuller | F | JR | Dallas, Texas / University of San Diego
PPG: 5.5 | REB: 4.6 | BLK: 3.0
- 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 3.05 shots per game to rank fifth in NCAA Division II.
- accounted for at least four blocked in eight games this season including a season-high seven against Tarleton State (1/13).
- Fuller's 67 blocked shots this season are the third most by a single player in MSU program history trailing only former NBA'er Eric Dawson, who had 96 in 2006-07 and 74 in 2005-06.
- shooting 68.1 percent from the floor with 32 dunks this season.
- posted a season-high 10 points going 3-of-4 from the field and 4-of-5 from the charity stripe in a win over West Texas A&M (2/10).
 
Khapri Alston | F | SR | Chicago, Ill. / Northeast CC (Neb.)
PPG: 13.6 | REB: 9.6 | BLK: 1.0 | STL: 1.0
- leads the Lone Star Conference in rebounding.
- boasts nine 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 19 games this season.
- pulled down a then-season high 14 rebounds against Tarleton State.
- active on defense with 23 steals and 22 blocked shots.
- averaging a team-high 14.8 points and 10.9 rebounds in 28.6 minutes per game during Lone Star Conference play.
 
TOP RESERVES
Brandon Golden | G | SR | Austin, Texas / McMurry
PPG: 8.4 | REB: 2.8 | AST: 0.7
- 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 9.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 36.4 percent from 3-point range.
- missed the last three games since suffering wrist injury against Cameron on Jan. 31.
 
Sheldon Hagigal | G | JR | Old Westbury, N.Y. / Trinity Valley CC
PPG: 8.2 | REB: 1.8 | AST: 1.5
- gives MSU a scoring punch off of the bench notching 10-or-more points in eight 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 39.8 percent from 3-point range.
- knocked down a triple in eight straight games from Jan. 6-Feb. 6.
- sat out West Texas A&M game (2/10) serving a team suspension.
 
DeVaughn Jones | F | SR | District Heights, Md. / Lackawanna College
PPG: 5.6 | REB: 3.6
- 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: 4.4 | REB: 1.4 | AST: 2.9
- 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 seven occasions including a season-high 10 against St. Gregory's (1/2).
- scored six points, dished out six assists and made three steals against Texas A&M-Commerce (2/6).
- connected on two 3-pointers to finish with eight points in a win over West Texas A&M (2/10).
 
Magnus Richards | F | JR | Silver Spring, Md. / Binghamton
PPG: 3.3 | REB: 2.5
- Division I transfer from Binghamton has played in each of MSU's 21 games this season.
- scored season-high nine points against then-No. 3 Bellarmine (Ky.) (11/27).
- matched a season-high with nine points, three rebounds and two steals in campaign-best 20 minutes against West Texas A&M (2/10).
- scored eight points in eight minutes on 3-of-5 shooting against Texas A&M-Commerce (2/6).
- 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 114-35 mark (.765) 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 hits the road to take on Texas A&M-Kingsville Wednesday at the Steinke Center. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.