Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville
Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2016 | 7:30 p.m.
Steinke Physical Education Center | Kingsville, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (18-5, 7-4); Texas A&M-Kingsville (10-12, 2-9)
Video: JavelinaAthletics.com (Free)  
Audio: Mustangs Digital Network (Free) 
Live Stats: JavelinaAthletics.com 
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State begins its final full week of Lone Star Conference play on the road Wednesday night against Texas A&M-Kingsville at the Steinke Physical Education Center. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
MSU IN CHARGE OF OWN DESTINY... Midwestern State will claim at least a share of its ninth Lone Star Conference championship and most likely take the No. 1 seed in the league's postseason tournament if the Mustangs can close the regular season with wins over Texas A&M-Kingsville, Angelo State and Cameron.
THE CENTURY CLUB... Midwestern State poured in a season-high in a 110-62 rout of Eastern New Mexico on Feb. 13, 2016 in Portales. It was the Mustangs' fourth 100-point effort of the season which is the most since MSU scored 100 points in four games during the 2006-07 season.
PILING UP THE POINTS... MSU scored 110 points against Eastern New Mexico on Feb. 13, 2016 which were the most points for the Mustangs in a Lone Star Conference game since joining the league in 1996-97. Midwestern scored 118 points against Central Oklahoma (12/5/98) and 112 against Southwestern Oklahoma (12/4/97) but both came in LSC crossover contests. The 110 points were also the most since MSU tallied 127 points in a quadruple overtime against Emporia State (Kan.) on Dec. 20, 2007 and the most in a regulation game since totaling 113 against Dallas Christian on Nov. 18, 2006.
BIG MARGIN OF VICTORY, LSC STYLE... Midwestern State's 48-point win over Eastern New Mexico (110-62) on Feb. 13, 2016 was its largest margin of victory in an LSC contest in program history bettering the 45-point win over Texas A&M-Kingsville (95-50) on Jan. 20, 2016 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs have won eight games this season by 20-or-more points.
DOMINATING THE HOGGIES... Midwestern State has won the last 17 games against Texas A&M-Kingsville dating back to the start of the 2008-09 season by an average of 17.1 points per game.
 
SCOUTING THE JAVELINAS
- Texas A&M-Kingsville has won just one of nine games away from home this season, but are 6-3 at the Steinke Physical Education Center.
- Both of the Javelinas' Lone Star Conference victories have come at home as TAMUK defeated Eastern New Mexico and Texas A&M-Commerce.
- Texas A&M-Kingsville closes regular season playing the top of the LSC playing host to Midwestern State on Wednesday before traveling to Lawton to face Cameron on Saturday. The Hoggies close out the regular season by playing host to Angelo State on Saturday, Feb. 27.
- Senior forward Troy Jones leads the Javelinas in scoring with 12.6 points per game and in rebounding hauling in 7.9 per contest. The 6-7, 230-pounder has scored in double figures in six of his last seven games including three double-doubles. He notched season highs with 27 points and 18 rebounds against Eastern New Mexico on Feb. 3.
- Senior guard D.J. Weathers averages 12.1 points and 4.1 rebounds for the Javelinas. He has scored in double figures 15 times this season including a campaign-best 22 against West Texas A&M on Feb. 6.
- Senior guard Jamar Goodwin scored 13 points including a pair of 3-pointers to lead the Hoggies against Midwestern State on Jan. 20 in Wichita Falls.
- Johnny Estelle is 18-31 (.367) in his second season at the helm of the Texas A&M-Kingsville men's basketball program.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Kingsville meet for the 45th time on the hardwood Wednesday at the Steinke Physical Education Center in Kingsville.
- The Mustangs own a 33-11 lead in the series which dates back to the 1976-77 season.
- MSU has won the last 17 meeting between the programs by an average margin of victories of 17.1 points.
- Texas A&M-Kingsville's last win came by a 78-63 count on Feb. 16, 2008 in Kingsville.
- Midwestern is 13-6 all-time against the Javelinas in Kingsville and have won in their last seven trips to South Texas.
 
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 last week. 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. Both polls are due for release on Tuesday.
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.
THE .500/10 SPLIT... Midwestern State has shot at least 50 percent from the field and buried at least 10 3-pointers in five games this season. The Mustangs' average margin of victories in those games in 44.8 points.
RAINING THREES... Midwestern State leads the Lone Star Conference in 3-point percentage during league play knocking down 40 percent of shots from beyond the arc. The Mustangs are paced by senior guard Bretson McNeal. McNeal has drained 46.9 percent of his shots from beyond the arc knocking down 23-of-49 shots from distance during league play. Junior Sheldon Hagigal is shooting 41.7 percent (15-for-36) while Brandon Golden is at 36.4 percent (12-of-33) and Jordan Stevens is at 41 percent (25-of-61).
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: 13.0 | REB: 3.7 | AST: 1.9  | STL: 1.9
- Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year.
- started each of MSU's 23 games.
- leads LSC knocking down 47.0 percent of his shots from the arc.
- connected on at least three 3-pointers in 11 games this season.
- tied for eighth on MSU's all-time 3-point makes chart with 134 needing one to pass Gume Ibarra (134/1989-92) and three to move by E.J. Collins (136/1990-94) and Jeremy Ford (136/2006-08).
- blistered the nets for a 20-of-33 clip (60.6 percent) from 3-point range over a six-game stretch from Jan. 13-Feb. 3.
- scored 10-or-more points in 17 games this season including matching campaign highs of 22 in the season opener against Oklahoma City and at Eastern New Mexico.
- leads Lone Star Conference with 43 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: 15.7 | REB: 3.3 | AST: 3.7
- Division I transfer from Duquesne.
-  started in 22 of 23 games this season.
- ranks sixth in the LSC in scoring at 15.7 points per game and sixth in assists at 3.7.
- explosive scorer has scored 20-or-more points in seven 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).
- matched a season-high with four 3-pointers on his way to 20 points and six assists against Eastern New Mexico (2/13).
- ranks among national leaders in free throw percentage at 87.7 percent.
 
Hershell Grant | G | SR | Washington, D.C. / Clarendon College
PPG: 7.1 | REB: 3.9 | 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 50.5 percent from the field, 39.0 percent from 3-point range and 70.7 percent from the free throw line.
- top defender has scored in double figures seven times this season including a season 18 points against St. Gregory's (1/2).
- connected on 5-of-6 shots including a season-high three 3-pointers to finish with 14 points and six rebounds in a 110-62 win over Eastern New Mexico (2/13).
- 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: 5.4 | REB: 4.4 | 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).
- his 114 career blocked shots are the third most in school history behind Eric Dawson (170/2005-07) and Mike E. Smith (157/1982-86).
- Fuller's 70 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 66.2 percent from the floor with 34 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: 13.2 | REB: 9.5 | 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 23 blocked shots.
- second on the team with 13.8 points and tops the squad with 10.5 rebounds in 27.5 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 four games since suffering wrist injury against Cameron on Jan. 31.
 
Sheldon Hagigal | G | JR | Old Westbury, N.Y. / Trinity Valley CC
PPG: 8.4 | REB: 1.9 | AST: 1.4
- gives MSU a scoring punch off of the bench notching 10-or-more points in nine 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 38.2 percent from 3-point range.
- knocked down a triple in eight straight games from Jan. 6-Feb. 6.
- buried two 3-pointers and went 4-for-8 from the field with four steals to finish with 12 points in a 110-62 out of Eastern New Mexico (2/13).
- sat out West Texas A&M game (2/10) serving a team suspension.
 
DeVaughn Jones | F | SR | District Heights, Md. / Lackawanna College
PPG: 5.7 | REB: 3.8
- 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).
- went for eight points and seven rebounds in a 110-62 rout of Eastern New Mexico (2/13).
 
Pat Smith | G | JR | Houston, Texas / Jones HS
PPG: 4.4 | REB: 1.4 | AST: 2.8
- 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).
- buried a 3-pointer in each of his last three games while going 4-for-9 from the arc (44.4 percent).
 
Magnus Richards | F | JR | Silver Spring, Md. / Binghamton
PPG: 3.7 | REB: 2.7
- 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).
- connected on 5-of-10 shots to finish with a season highs with 10 points and seven rebounds with a pair of dunks in a 110-62 rout of Eastern New Mexico (2/13).
- matched then season-highs 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 115-35 mark (.767) 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 returns to D.L. Ligon Coliseum to take on Angelo State on Senior Night. Tipoff for Saturday is set for 6 p.m.