Midwestern State vs. Cameron
Friday, March 4, 2016 | 8:30 p.m.
Allen Event Center | Allen, Texas
Records: Midwestern State (22-5); Cameron (16-11)
Video: Lone Star Conference
Audio: Mustangs Digital Network  
Live Stats: Lone Star Conference
 
ON THE COURT
Midwestern State and Cameron resume the Red River Rivalry in the semifinal round of the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament Friday night at the Allen Event Center. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m.
 
The winner moves on to face the victor of the Angelo State/Tarleton State matchup (2:30 p.m./Friday) in the LSC finals Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
 
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
MSU IN THE LSC SEMIS... Midwestern State advances to the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament semifinals for the 12th time and own an 8-3 record. The Mustangs have won their last three games in the semifinal round (2012, 2013, 2014) with their last loss coming in 2011 against Tarleton State. MSU moved on to the finals in 1999, 2000, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014.
MSU IN THE LSC POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT... Midwestern State owns the highest winning percentage of any LSC program in the postseason tournament improving to 26-9 (.743) with a 112-68 win over Eastern New Mexico in Wednesday night's quarterfinal final round. The Mustangs are just ahead of Tarleton State which moved to 28-14 (.667) with a victory over Texas A&M-Commerce Thursday afternoon.
RECORD SETTING PERFORMANCE... Midwestern State set a program record for points in an LSC Postseason Tournament game in a 112-68 win over Eastern New Mexico Wednesday night. The output bettered the 110 points MSU put up in a 20-point win over Southwestern Oklahoma State on Feb. 29, 2000. All of MSU's 13 players scored points as 11 players logged at least 10 minutes in the win with only junior guard Pat Smith logging more than 20 minutes off of the bench.
HITTING THE CENTURY MARK... Midwestern State scored 100 points for the fifth time this season which is the most since the 1999-00 scored in triple figures on six occasions. MSU hit the century mark against Oklahoma City (103-51), USAO (105-82), St. Gregory's (103-57) and twice against Eastern New Mexico (110-62 and 112-68) this season.
MSU DIGS THE ALLEN EVENT CENTER... Midwestern State boasts an 8-3 mark in games played since the LSC Postseason Tournament moved to the Allen Event Center in 2012. The Mustangs advanced to the finals in the first three seasons in the venue winning the title in 2012.
 
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
- Cameron snapped a three-game skid by claiming a 79-70 win over West Texas A&M in the Thursday night's opening round of the LSC Postseason Tournament.
- The Aggies move on to the LSC Postseason Tournament semifinals for just the fifth time in program history and are 5-11 all time in tournament play.
- Senior forward Jamaal Brantley garnered All-Lone Star Conference first-team honors after leading the Aggies in scoring (15.7 ppg) and rebounding (7.4 rpg) in 26.9 minutes per game this season. Has scored at least 10 points in each of his last 13 outings tallying at least 20 points four times during the stretch.
- Brantley logged a near triple-double with 20 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists in Thursday's win over West Texas A&M.
- Senior guard Deondre Ray garnered All-LSC second-team honors averaging 14.8 points and 6.1 rebounds in 32.2 minutes per game this season. He has scored in double figures in 24 of 27 games this season.
- Ray registered his fifth 20-point performance of the campaign with 22 points and nine rebounds Thursday against West Texas A&M.
- LSC Freshman of the Year J.V. Long scored 10.2 points and dished out 4.1 assists in 32.9 minutes per game this season for the Aggies.
- Senior guard Cameron Lee garnered All-LSC honorable mention tallying 13.4 points a contest while knocking down 48 3-pointers in 26.8 minutes per game this season. Lee had a string of 17-straight games in double figures snapped Thursday against West Texas A&M scoring eight points.
- LSC Co-Coach of the Year Nate Gamet boasts a 40-41 mark in his third season at the helm of the Cameron men's basketball program.
 
ABOUT THE SERIES
- Midwestern State and Cameron renew the Red River Rivalry for the 72nd time Friday night in the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament semifinal round at the Allen Event Center.
- The Mustangs own a 46-25 edge in the series which dates back to the 1968-69 season.
- The teams split the season series with Cameron taking an 80-75 win on Jan. 30 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum before Midwestern State clinched an outright Lone Star Conference title with a 79-59 victory in Lawton on Feb. 27 in the NCAA II National Game of the Week which was aired on ESPN3.
- Cameron's 80-75 victory was its first in Wichita Falls since Dec. 15, 1990 snapping a 17-game winning streak by MSU over the Aggies in Ligon Coliseum.
- This is the fourth meeting between the teams in LSC postseason play with Midwestern State claiming wins over Cameron in 2009 (94-65/QF/Bartlesville) and 2012 (59-50/SF/Allen). The Aggies knocked MSU out in the first round last season by an 87-84 count in overtime.
 
MUSTANGS NOTEBOOK
IN THE POLLS... Midwestern State moved up three spots to No. 11 in this week's NABC Division II Poll. The Mustangs are ranked seventh in the D2 Media Poll. MSU has been ranked as high as No. 4 in the NABC poll and spent a week at No. 1 in the D2 Media Poll.
REGIONAL RANKINGS... Midwestern State remained at the top of the NCAA Division II South Central Region rankings this week ranked ahead of Angelo State, Fort Lewis (Colo.), Tarleton State, Colorado Mines, Lubbock Christian (Texas), Arkansas-Fort Smith and Dallas Baptist (Texas).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.
MUSTANGS EARN ALL-LSC HONORS... Midwestern State senior forward Khapri Alston was MSU's lone first-team All-Lone Star Conference performer while senior guard Bretson McNeal earned second-team accolades. Junior forward Trevor Fuller is the league's Defensive Player of the Year.
HAGGERTY EARNS CO-COACH OF THE YEAR HONORS... Midwestern State bench boss Nelson Haggerty was named LSC Coach of the Year for the second time also earning the honor in his first season at the helm in 2012. He shared the honors with Cameron's Nate Gamet.
WINNING BIG... Midwestern State boasts the fifth largest scoring margin in NCAA Division II at 17.2 points per game. Of MSU's 22 wins, 15 have come by 10-or-more points while winning six conference contests by at least 15 points. The Mustangs have won nine games by at least 20 points.
SEVEN IN 10... MSU became the first Lone Star Conference member to win seven league titles in 10 years since Stephen F. Austin pulled off the feat between 1932-41. Howard Payne won six in 10 seasons between 1962-71 and East Texas State on seven in 11 seasons between 1948-58. The Mustangs also claimed their ninth Lone Star Conference title since joining the league in 1996-97 which is five more than any other program has won over the time as Tarleton State and Central Oklahoma won four apiece.
MSU REACHES 20 WINS AGAIN... Midwestern State claimed its 20th win with a 76-71 win over then-No. 16 Angelo State on Saturday, Feb. 20 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.
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 (6.7), second in total blocks (182.0), third in field goal percentage defense (38.1), fifth in scoring margin (+17.2), sixth in rebound margin (+8.3) and seventh in defensive rebounds (30.07).
 
MSU PROBABLE STARTERS
Bretson McNeal | G | SR | Minneapolis, Minn. / North Dakota State Science
PPG: 12.4 | REB: 3.6 | AST: 1.9 | STL: 1.7
- Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year.
- earned All-Lone Star Conference second-team honors as a senior after gaining first-team accolades as a junior.
- started each of MSU's 27 games.
- leads LSC knocking down 42.9 percent of his shots from the arc.
- connected on at least three 3-pointers in 11 games this season.
- moved into sixth on MSU's all-time 3-point makes chart knocking down his 137th 3-pointer against Eastern New Mexico on March 2 moving ahead of E.J. Collins (136/1990-94) and Jeremy Ford (136/2006-08). He needs 16 to match Michael Rhinehart (143/1986-88) for fifth place.
- fourth on MSU's all-time 3-point percentage list at 42.5 percent (137-for-322) 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 45 steals this season (1.7 per game).
- made a season-high six steals against Texas A&M-Commerce (2/6).
- slumped from the arc hitting just 5-of-30 shots (16.6 percent) over his last seven games.
 
Jordan Stevens | G | SR | Columbia, Mo. / Duquesne
PPG: 15.4 | REB: 3.3 | AST: 3.6
- Division I transfer from Duquesne.
-  started in 25 of 27 games this season.
- ranks sixth in the LSC in scoring at 15.4 points per game and sixth in assists at 3.6.
- explosive scorer has scored 20-or-more points in eight games this season including a 31-point effort against Eastern New Mexico (1/9).
- scored a game-high 21 points in 18 minutes in a 112-68 win over Eastern New Mexico in the opening round of the LSC Postseason Tournament (3/2).
- 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 84.8 percent.
- has scored in double figures in each of his last nine games averaging 15.4 points per game while shooting 40.3 percent from the field.
 
Hershell Grant | G | SR | Washington, D.C. / Clarendon College
PPG: 7.6 | REB: 4.2 | AST: 1.8
- 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 51.5 percent from the field, 41.2 percent from 3-point range and 73.5 percent from the free throw line.
- tabbed Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week after scoring 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting with a pair of 3-pointers to go along with nine rebounds, a block and a steal in a 79-59 win over Cameron (2/27) to clinch an outright LSC championship.
- top defender has scored in double figures 10 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).
- connected on 13 of his last 17 shots from the field over the last three games going 5-for-9 from the 3-point line.
 
Trevor Fuller | F | JR | Dallas, Texas / University of San Diego
PPG: 5.1 | REB: 4.5 | BLK: 3.4
- 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.
- earned Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 3.9 blocked shots per game during LSC play.
- Fuller ranks amongst the best rim protectors in college basketball swatting 3.37 shots per game to rank second in NCAA Division II behind Seton Hill's Spencer Casson (3.65 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 11 games this season including a season-high 11 against Angelo State (2/20).
- had seven blocked shots against Tarleton State (1/13).
- his 135 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 91 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 66.7 percent from the floor with 40 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: 13.4 | REB: 9.4 | BLK: 1.0 | STL: 1.0
- MSU's only All-Lone Star Conference first-team performer.
- 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. He also finished with nine points and 12 rebounds in another game.
- 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 22 games this season.
- pulled down a then-season high 14 rebounds against Tarleton State.
- active on defense with 27 steals and 26 blocked shots.
- led team with 14.1 points and tops the squad with 10.4 rebounds in 27.6 minutes per game during Lone Star Conference play.
 
TOP RESERVES
Brandon Golden | G | SR | Austin, Texas / McMurry
PPG: 8.3 | REB: 2.7 | AST: 0.8
- 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 38 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 seven games after suffering wrist injury against Cameron on Jan. 31 scoring seven points in 17 minutes in his return in a 112-68 win over Eastern New Mexico in the LSC Postseason Tournament's first round (3/2).
 
Sheldon Hagigal | G | JR | Old Westbury, N.Y. / Trinity Valley CC
PPG: 9.0 | REB: 1.8 | AST: 1.5
- gives MSU a scoring punch off of the bench notching 10-or-more points in 11 games this season.
- knocked down five 3-pointers on his way to a campaign-best 19 points to lead MSU to a 79-59 win over Cameron (2/27) to clinch an outright LSC championship.
- poured in a then 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 42.7 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).
- connected on 14-of-24 shots (58.3 percent) from beyond the arc over his last five games.
 
DeVaughn Jones | F | SR | District Heights, Md. / Lackawanna College
PPG: 5.6 | REB: 4.0
- top big off of the bench for MSU.
- scored in double figures six times this season.
- notched his first double-double for MSU with 12 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 5-of-6 from the floor in a 112-68 win over Eastern New Mexico in the LSC Postseason Tournament quarterfinals (3/2).
- 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: 2.7
- 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 six games while going 7-for-15 from the arc (46.7 percent).
 
Magnus Richards | F | JR | Silver Spring, Md. / Binghamton
PPG: 3.9 | 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 119-35 mark (.773) leading the Mustangs to the NCAA Division II postseason in each of his campaigns at the helm and to  Lone Star Conference championships in four of his five 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. He repeated as LSC Coach of the Year while piloting the Mustangs to their fourth LSC title in his five seasons at head coach in 2016.
- 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 over Cameron, Midwestern State advances to its ninth LSC Postseason Tournament final Saturday afternoon at 5:30 p.m. at the Allen Event Center. The Mustangs would face the winner Friday afternoon's other semifinal between Angelo State and Tarleton State.