Midwestern State (2-3) vs. Saint Leo (4-4)
Terrace Hotel Thanksgiving Classic
Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 | 4:30 p.m.
George W. Jenkins Fieldhouse | Lakeland, Fla.
Live Stats: FSCMocs.com | Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Video: FSCMocs.com | Audio: Mustangs Digital Network
 
Midwestern State (2-3) at Florida Southern (2-2)
Terrace Hotel Thanksgiving Classic
Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017 | 6:30 p.m.
George W. Jenkins Fieldhouse | Lakeland, Fla.
Live Stats: FSCMocs.com | Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Video: FSCMocs.com | Audio: Mustangs Digital Network
 
FREE THROWS

• Midwestern State rides a two-game winning streak into the Terrace Hotel Thanksgiving Classic.
• The Mustangs top the Lone Star Conference in free throws made (101), offensive rebounds per game (13.8) and steals per game (9.2).
• Midwestern State snapped a three-game skid with a 123-121 double-overtime win at Western State (Colo.) on Nov. 18^th. The 123 points were the most scored by an MSU team since the Mustangs needed four OTs to beat Emporia State (Kan.) – 127-124 – on Dec. 20, 2007 at Ligon Coliseum. That game featured a ¾-court pass off of the backboard from current MSU assistant women's coach Christopher Reay to Trajinski Grigsby.
• Neel is averaging 27.7 points and 7.7 rebounds over his last three outings which includes a 26-point, 10-rebound performance against Colorado Mesa, a career-best 30-point, 6-rebound effort against Western State and a 27-point, 7-rebound showing against Southwestern Assemblies of God. During the run, Neel is shooting 31-of-51 (60.8 percent) with four 3-pointers while going 17-of-24 (70.8 percent) from the charity stripe.
• Senior guard Brandon Neel ranks fifth in the LSC and 78^th in NCAA Division II in scoring at 20.6 points per game.
• Sophomore guard Logan Hicks ranks second on the team notching five consecutive double-figure performances. He had a season-high 19 points in the opener against Arkansas-Fort Smith. He is shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 50 percent from the arc (12-for-24).
• Senior guard Trey Kennedy gives the Mustangs a third double-figure scorer at 12 points per game. He scored 10-or-more points in three games including a season-best 25 points on 11-of-25 shooting against Western State on Nov. 18^th.
• Senior guard Devante Pullum rates third in the LSC in assists per game at 4.2 and is fourth in steals per game with two. The Little Elm High product scores 8.0 points per game scoring 16 of his 40 total points have come at the charity stripe (16-of-19 / 84.2 percent).
• Senior forward Nick Powell has scored at least eight points in four of five games this season and is averaging 8.0 points and 4.6 rebounds in 20.4 minutes per game.
• Senior forward Josh Huntley has averaged 13 points and seven rebounds in his first two starts of the season the last two time out. He scored 16 points and pulled down four rebounds against Western State before going for a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds versus Southwestern Assemblies of God.
• Midwestern State faces both Saint Leo and Florida Southern for the first time on the hardcourt this weekend at the Terrace Hotel Thanksgiving Classic. Both are members of the Sunshine State Conference.
• Saint Leo rolls into the Terrace Hotel Thanksgiving Classic with a 4-4 record, but six of the Lions' eight games have been decided by five points or fewer. Saint Leo is 4-2 in those games.
• Sophomore guard Isaiah Hill paces the Saint Leo averaging 12.8 points per game to go along with 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He has scored in double figures in seven of eight games.
• Hill is joined in double figures by junior forward Junior Searcy (10.5 points, 4.6 rebounds) and senior guard Tyreece Brice (10.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists).
• Florida Southern (2-2) owns a road win over preseason No. 25 Delta State (Miss.) then dropped its conference opener 69-68 to Saint Leo. The Mocs rebounded with a 75-73 win over Palm Beach Atlantic.
• Junior guard Jonathan Lawton averaged 20.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game to pace the Mocs. He has scored at least 20 points in three of FSC's four games and is coming off of a season-best 24-point effort the last time out against Palm Beach Atlantic. Lawton is a transfer from D2 St. Thomas Aquinas.
• Sophomore guard Brett Hanson (16.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists) and sophomore forward Jack Rauch (11.5 points, 6.8 rebounds) also scored in double figures for Florida Southern.
• The traditional powerhouse Mocs boast two national championships (1981, 2015) and 10 NCAA regional titles.