Midwestern State vs. Texas A&M-Commerce
Saturday, Feb. 6, 2015 | 6 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (16-4, 5-3); Texas A&M-Commerce (15-6, 4-4)
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM
Video: Mustangs Digital Network (PPV)  
Audio: Mustangs Digital Network (Free) 
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com  
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State battles Texas A&M-Commerce in Lone Star Conference matchup Saturday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
 
PROMOTION
MUSTANGS WIN, YOU WIN... With a Midwestern State win, redeem your ticket stub at Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers for a buy one, get one combo meal within 24 hours of the game.
 
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
MUSTANGS SKID REACHES THREE... Midwestern State has lost three consecutive games for the first time since suffering three consecutive road losses to Central Oklahoma, Texas-Permian Basin and Northeastern State (Okla.) from Nov. 25-Dec. 15, 2008. The Mustangs dropped an overtime decision at Angelo State on Jan. 23 then fell to Cameron (80-75) and Tarleton State (66-65). This came on the heels of a 14-game winning streak.
FOUR ON THE FLOOR... Midwestern is looking to avert its first four-game losing streak since the 2005-06 season when the Mustangs took consecutive conference losses to Tarleton State, Texas A&M-Kingsville, West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico from Jan. 17-28, 2006.
WINNING THE SECOND HALF... The Mustangs have outscored the opposition during the second half in 16 of 20 games this season. MSU is 15-1 in those games with its lone loss coming at Tarleton State as Midwestern outscored the Texans 38-32 in a one-point loss in Stephenville. The Mustangs are 0-2 when opponents put up more points after intermission in losses to Colorado State-Pueblo (11/24) -- outscored 48-40 after the half -- and Angelo State (1/23) -- outscored 36-34. Midwestern is 1-1 when tying the opposition after halftime.
TAMING THE LIONS... Midwestern State has won its last seven games against Texas A&M-Commerce and 17 of the last 18 dating back to the start of the 2005-06 season. The Mustangs have won their last eight against A&M-C at Ligon Coliseum with the Lions' last win coming by a 57-46 margin on Jan. 29, 2004.
DOME, SWEET DOME... Midwestern State suffered its second home loss against Cameron last Saturday to fall to 9-2 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum this season. The Mustangs have not lost more than two games at home since going 9-5 under the dome in 2007-08. Midwestern boasts a 99-10 record (.908) on its home floor since the start of the 2008-09 campaign.
 
SCOUTING THE LIONS
- Texas A&M-Commerce bounced back from a four-game skid to win its last four games including Lone Star Conference wins over Tarleton State and Cameron after righting the ship with a win over Arlington Baptist.
- Texas A&M-Commerce shot over 60 percent from the field and place five scorers in double figures in a 94-77 win over LSC leading Cameron Wednesday night in Commerce.
- Senior forward Bryant Crowder ranks fourth in the LSC in scoring at 16.2 points per game while pulling down 6.9 rebounds a contest. He is coming off of a 24-point effort on 9-of-13 shooting against Cameron. It was seventh game with at least 20 points this season.
- Senior guard Anthony Adams scores 13.5 points while dishing out 3.8 assists a contest. The second-year starter went a perfect 5-for-5 from the field against Cameron to finish with 18 points and seven rebounds.
- Senior guard Jeremy Jones ranks third on the Lions in scoring at 11.4 points per game while dishing out a team-best 4.2 assists a game -- second in the LSC.  Jones has scored 16.8 points a game since he was re-inserted into the starting lineup four games ago. He is shooting 44.2 percent from the field during the stretch (23-of-52) with seven 3-pointers.
- Senior forward Everett Pleasant scored a career-high 23 points against Midwestern State earlier this season in Commerce. It was the seventh of nine-straight games in double digits for Pleasant, who has scored a total of 15 points over his last three outings. He is averaging 10.6 points and 7.3 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game this season.
- Texas A&M-Commerce ranks sixth in NCAA Division II in blocked shots per game (5.5) and seventh in rebound margin (+8.3).
- Sam Walker is 264-186 (.587) in his 16th season at the helm of the Texas A&M-Commerce men's basketball program. The Lions claimed the 2014-15 LSC Postseason Tournament title.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Commerce meet for the 86th time on the hardwood Saturday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- The Mustangs own a 54-31 edge in the series which dates back to the 1946-47 season.
- MSU has won the last seven games between the program and 17 of 18 dating back to the start of the 2005-06 season. Texas A&M-Commerce's lone win came by a 74-66 count on Jan. 9, 2013 in Commerce.
- Midwestern is 29-8 all-time against the Lions in games played in Wichita Falls and have won the last eight times at Ligon Coliseum versus A&M-C which last won 57-46 on Jan. 29, 2004 under the dome.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
IN THE POLLS... Midwestern State dropped five spots to No. 11 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches' Top 25 earlier this week. The Mustangs also checked in at No. 11 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 42.3 percent of shots from beyond the arc. The Mustangs, who are the only team shooting better than 40 percent, are paced by senior guard Bretson McNeal. McNeal has drained 56.8 percent of his shots from beyond the arc knocking down 21-of-37 shots from distance during league play. Junior Sheldon Hagigal is shooting 46.4 percent (13-for-28) while Brandon Golden is at 36.4 percent (12-of-33) and Jordan Stevens is at 35.7 percent (15-of-42).
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 (131.0), fourth in rebound margin (+9.2), fourth in field goal percentage defense (38.3), sixth in scoring margin (+16.2), sixth in defensive rebounds (30.7) and 19th in 3-point field goal percentage (40.2).
 
MSU PROBABLE STARTERS
Bretson McNeal | G | SR | Minneapolis, Minn. / North Dakota State Science
PPG: 13.0 | REB: 3.8 | AST: 1.9
- Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year.
- started each of MSU's 20 games.
- leads LSC and ranks fourth in NCAA Division II in 3-point field goal percentage knocking down 50.5 percent of his shots from the arc.
- connected on at least three 3-pointers in 11 games this season.
- on a tear from the arc knocking down 20 of 33 over his last six games (60.6 percent).
- scored 10-or-more points in 15 games this season including a campaign-high 22 in the season opener against Oklahoma City.
 
Jordan Stevens | G | SR | Columbia, Mo. / Duquesne
PPG: 15.2 | REB: 3.1 | AST: 3.6
- Division I transfer from Duquesne.
-  started in 19 of 20 games this season.
- ranks sixth in the LSC in scoring at 15.2 points per game and fifth in assists at 3.6.
- explosive scorer has scored 20-or-more points in five games this season including a 31-point effort against Eastern New Mexico (1/9).
- ranks among national leaders in free throw percentage at 91.8 percent.
 
Hershell Grant | G | SR | Washington, D.C. / Clarendon College
PPG: 7.2 | REB: 3.6 | AST: 1.9
- 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 52.6 percent from the field, 39.4 percent from 3-point range and 68.6 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: 5.3 | REB: 4.9 | BLK: 2.9
- 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 2.90 shots per game to rank fifth in NCAA Division II.
- accounted for at least four blocked in seven games this season including a season-high seven against Tarleton State (1/13).
- Fuller's 58 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 67.7 percent from the floor with 29 dunks this season.
 
Khapri Alston | F | SR | Chicago, Ill. / Northeast CC (Neb.)
PPG: 13.5 | REB: 10.1 | BLK: 1.1 | STL: 1.1
- 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 17 games this season.
- pulled down a then-season high 14 rebounds against Tarleton State.
- active on defense with 21 steals and 21 blocked shots.
- averaging a team-high 14.8 points and 12.4 rebounds in 29.6 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 Tarleton State game after suffering wrist injury against Cameron on Jan. 31.
 
Sheldon Hagigal | G | JR | Old Westbury, N.Y. / Trinity Valley CC
PPG: 8.5 | 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 40 percent from 3-point range.
- has knocked down a triple in each of his last eight games.
 
DeVaughn Jones | F | SR | District Heights, Md. / Lackawanna College
PPG: 5.8 | 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).
 
Pat Smith | G | JR | Houston, Texas / Jones HS
PPG: 4.1 | 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 six occasions including a season-high 10 against St. Gregory's (1/2).
 
Magnus Richards | F | JR | Silver Spring, Md. / Binghamton
PPG: 2.8 | REB: 2.5
- Division I transfer from Binghamton has played in each of MSU's 19 games this season.
- scored matching season highs of seven points against St. Mary's (Texas) (12/1) and St. Gregory's (1/2).
- 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 113-34 mark (.769) 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 plays host to West Texas A&M Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.