Midwestern State vs. Cameron
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 | 4 p.m.
Aggie Gym | Lawton, Okla.
Records: Midwestern State (20-5, 9-4); Cameron (15-10, 8-5)
Video: ESPN3  
Audio: Mustangs Digital Network (Free) 
Live Stats: CameronAggies.com 
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State aims to claim its first outright Lone Star Conference championship since 2013 with a win over Cameron Saturday afternoon at Aggie Gym. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.
 
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
KEEPING IT TIDY... Midwestern State can claim its first outright Lone Star Conference championship since 2013 with a win over Cameron. A win would spoil title aspirations of Angelo State, Tarleton State, West Texas A&M and Cameron -- all are a game behind the Mustangs. An MSU loss to Cameron could set the stage for a five-way co-championship with an Angelo State win over Texas A&M-Kingsville, a Tarleton State win over Texas A&M-Commerce an a West Texas A&M win over Eastern New Mexico.
STACKING UP... Midwestern State clinched at least a share of its ninth Lone Star Conference championship since joining the league prior to the 1996-97 season. During that time, no other team has won more than four titles with Tarleton State and Central Oklahoma claiming four titles each and West Texas A&M has three while Texas A&M-Commerce and Northeastern State (Okla.) won one.
SEVEN IN 10... Midwestern State has won seven Lone Star Conference championships over the last 10 years including titles in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016.
MSU REACHES 20 WINS AGAIN... Midwestern State claimed its 20th win with a 76-71 win over then-No. 16 Angelo State last Saturday at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs have won at least 20 games in each of their last eight seasons which is the longest streak in the LSC. Tarleton State can extend their current streak to seven straight 20-win campaigns with a win at Texas A&M-Commerce today. MSU and Tarleton have combined for 14 20-win season since the start of the 2008-09 while the rest of the LSC has six including three by Angelo State, two by West Texas A&M and one by Texas A&M-Commerce.
BLOCK PARTY... Midwestern State junior Trevor Fuller set Lone Star Conference and school records with 11 blocked shots Saturday against Angelo State to spur the Mustangs to LSC and school team single game records with 16 total blocks. Khapri Alston, Hershell Grant, Pat Smith, Magnus Richards and DeVaughn Jones all get in on the party with one blocked shot apiece, as well. The mark betters the previous mark of 14 team blocks set by Central Oklahoma against Arkansas Baptist in 1993. Fuller ranks third in NCAA Division II with 3.32 blocked shots per game while the Mustangs rank second as a team with 6.6 blocks per contest.
 
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
- Cameron has lost back-to-back games heading into its regular season finale with Midwestern State.
- The Aggies can claim a share of their first ever Lone Star Conference championship in men's basketball and first conference championship of any kind for the program since 1974 with a win over Midwestern State.
- Senior Jamaal Brantley ranks third in the Lone Star Conference pouring in 17.2 points a game during the league play. The 6-6 forward from Columbia, S.C. has scored 10-or-more points in each of his last 11 games including matching season highs of 27 points against Eastern New Mexico (1/7) and Texas A&M-Kingsville (2/20).
- Senior Deondre Ray rates fourth in the LSC scoring 16.5 points a contest during league play. The 6-5 forward from Fort Worth was held to four points Saturday against Texas A&M-Kingsville to quell a torrid pace where he scored in double figures over his previous 12 games including a five-game stretch where he scored 22.8 points per game (1/30-2/17) on 43-of-65 (66.1 percent) shooting.
- Senior guard Cameron Lee (13.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.0 apg) and redshirt-freshman point guard J.V. Long (11.5 ppg, 4.1 apg) are the only other players averaging more than five points a game for the Aggies during league play.
- Cameron shot 65.4 percent in the second half in its first meeting with Midwestern State to hold off the Mustangs 80-75 last month in Wichita Falls. Deondre Ray led the way with 23 points as the Aggies took a 41-36 lead into intermission and maintained the advantage in the second half.
- Nate Gamet carries a 39-40 record (.494) in his third season at the helm of the Cameron men's basketball program.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- The Red River Rivalry between Midwestern State and Cameron rolls into its 71st rendition Saturday afternoon at Aggie Gym in Lawton.
- The Mustangs hold a commanding 45-25 advantage in the series which dates back to the 1967-68 season.
- Cameron has won the last two games of the series taking an 87-84 win in overtime in the opening round of the 2015 Lone Star Conference postseason tournament in Allen before claiming the first meeting this season 80-75 on Jan. 30 in Wichita Falls.
- Midwestern State had won 14 of 15 meetings between the programs from Jan. 2, 2007 through March 1, 2015 before falling ot the Aggies in the opening round of last season's LSC postseason tournament.
- Cameron's 80-75 win over Midwestern State at  D.L. Ligon Coliseum last month was the first victory for the Aggies in Wichita Falls since Dec. 15, 1990 snapping a 17-game MSU win streak on its home floor in the series.
- Cameron is 20-14 all time against Midwestern State in games played at Aggie Gym, but the Mustangs have won in five of their last six trips to Lawton including an 88-77 victory last season.
- MSU All America Chris Hagan erupted for a school single-game record 50 points on 17-of-26 shooting with eight 3-pointers in a 91-82 win over Cameron on Dec. 13, 2010 at Aggie Gym.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
IN THE POLLS... Midwestern State jumped ahead eight spots to No. 14 in the NABC Division II poll this week after improving to 20-5 on the season with wins over Texas A&M-Kingsville and then-No. 16-ranked Angelo State. The Mustangs achieved its highest NABC ranking of the season reaching No. 4 on Jan. 12. MSU leaped 13 places to No. 8 in this week's D2 Media Poll. Midwestern reached No. 1 for one week in that poll for the period beginning Dec. 22.
REGIONAL RANKINGS... Midwestern State took over the top spot in the NCAA Division II South Central Region rankings released earlier this week. The Mustangs control the No. 1 position by the narrowest of margins over Angelo State while Fort Lewis (Colo.), Tarleton State, Colorado Mines, Dallas Baptist, Lubbock Christian and Arkansas-Fort Smith round out the top eight. The final regular season rankings are due on Feb. 24 and March 1 with 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.
MSU VERSUS NATIONALLY RANKED... The Mustangs are 3-1 against nationally ranked (NABC D2 Poll) opponents this season claiming wins over No. 3 Bellarmine (Ky.) (77-71 on 11/27), No. 6 Tarleton State (66-63 on 1/13) and No. 16 Angelo State (76-71 on 2/20). The Mustangs fell to No. 11 Angelo State (91-93 OT on 1/23). MSU is 12-11 against nationally ranked opposition during the Nelson Haggerty era which began with the 2011-12 season.
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.
DOING IT AND DOING IT WELL... The Mustangs rank amongst national leaders in numerous categories this season ranking second in blocked shots per game (6.6), second in total blocks (165.0), fifth in field goal percentage defense (38.6), fifth in rebound margin (+8.4), sixth in scoring margin (+16.0) and eighth in defensive rebounds (29.92).
 
MSU PROBABLE STARTERS
Bretson McNeal | G | SR | Minneapolis, Minn. / North Dakota State Science
PPG: 13.0 | REB: 3.7 | AST: 2.0  | STL: 1.8
- Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year.
- started each of MSU's 25 games.
- leads LSC knocking down 45.5 percent of his shots from the arc.
- connected on at least three 3-pointers in 11 games this season.
- tied for sixth on MSU's all-time 3-point makes chart with 136 with E.J. Collins (136/1990-94) and Jeremy Ford (136/2006-08). He needs 17 to match Michael Rhinehart (143/1986-88) for fifth place.
- fourth on MSU's all-time 3-point percentage list at 43.6 percent (136-for-312) behind Drew Coffman (78-for-173 / 45.1 percent), Gume Ibarra (134-for-301 / 44.5 percent) and Michael Rhinehart (143-for-325/1986-88).
- 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 19 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 44 steals this season (1.8 per game).
- made a season-high six steals against Texas A&M-Commerce (2/6).
 
Jordan Stevens | G | SR | Columbia, Mo. / Duquesne
PPG: 15.3 | REB: 3.3 | AST: 3.7
- Division I transfer from Duquesne.
-  started in 23 of 25 games this season.
- ranks seventh in the LSC in scoring at 15.3 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 87.3 percent.
 
Hershell Grant | G | SR | Washington, D.C. / Clarendon College
PPG: 7.1 | REB: 4.2 | 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 49.2 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from 3-point range and 70.5 percent from the free throw line.
- top defender has scored in double figures eight 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).
- averaging seven rebounds a game over his last four outings.
 
Trevor Fuller | F | JR | Dallas, Texas / University of San Diego
PPG: 5.3 | REB: 4.5 | BLK: 3.3
- 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 3.32 shots per game to rank third in NCAA Division II behind Seton Hill's Spencer Casson (3.67 bpg) and Lee's Rantavious Gilbert (3.41 bpg).
- earned third Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week honor after setting league and school records with 11 blocked shots in a 76-71 win over No. 16 Angelo State (2/20).
- his 11 blocked shots against Angelo State (2/20) eclipsed the LSC record of 10 set by West Texas A&M's Carlos Silva in 2004 and matched by Ian Adams of East Central (Okla.) in 2005.
- the 11 blocked shots versus Angelo State (2/20) bettered the school mark of eight set by Eric Dawson (former San Antonio Spur) against Southeastern Oklahoma State on Dec. 2, 2006.
- accounted for at least four blocked in nine games this season including a season-high 11 against Angelo State (2/20).
- had seven blocked shots against Tarleton State (1/13).
- his 127 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 83 blocked shots this season are the second most by a single player in MSU program history trailing only former NBA'er Eric Dawson, who had 96 in 2006-07.
- shooting 67.5 percent from the floor with 38 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: 9.4 | BLK: 1.0 | STL: 1.0
- leads the Lone Star Conference in rebounding.
- boasts 10 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.
- garnered Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors after notching his 10th double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds to key a 76-61 win over Angelo State (2/20).
- scored in double figures in 21 games this season.
- pulled down a then-season high 14 rebounds against Tarleton State.
- active on defense with 26 steals and 24 blocked shots.
- leads the team with 14.5 points and tops the squad with 10.2 rebounds in 27.6 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 six games since suffering wrist injury against Cameron on Jan. 31.
 
Sheldon Hagigal | G | JR | Old Westbury, N.Y. / Trinity Valley CC
PPG: 8.6 | REB: 1.7 | AST: 1.4
- gives MSU a scoring punch off of the bench notching 10-or-more points in 10 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 40.3 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).
- splashed in three 3-pointers on 4-of-5 shooting with three free throws to score 14 points in 19 minutes against Texas A&M-Kingsville (2/17).
- knocked down 7-of-12 of his 3-point efforts (58.3 percent) over his last three games.
 
DeVaughn Jones | F | SR | District Heights, Md. / Lackawanna College
PPG: 5.3 | 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: 4.8 | REB: 1.5 | AST: 2.8
- enjoying a breakout season as the top reserve point guard.
- matched a career high with 11 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists in a 76-71 win over No. 16 Angelo State (2/20).
- 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 five games while going 6-for-13 from the arc (46.2 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 a then-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 117-35 mark (.770) 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
- With a win, Midwestern State clinches an outright Lone Star Conference championship and the No. 1 seed in the LSC Postseason Tournament played next week at the Allen Event Center. The Mustangs would play the No. 8 seed -- Eastern New Mexico -- Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m.
- With a loss, Midwestern would fall to No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 depending on outcomes of other games in the Lone Star Conference on Saturday.