THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS -- Senior forward Nick Powell put a shooting show in the first half knocking down five 3-pointers to help Midwestern State establish a 15-point lead.
 
But Texas A&M-Commerce put on an offensive clinic in the second half to remain unbeaten at 7-0 running away with a 95-77 win Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
The Lions went 22-of-28 from the floor in the second half including 16 layups good for 78.6 shooting percentage. A&M-C hit 14 of its last 15 shots over the last 10 minutes of the game. The only miss was tipped in.
 
Meanwhile, Midwestern State went ice cold from the field after Devante Pullum's layup gave the Mustangs a 36-22 lead with 6:12 to go in the first half.
 
MSU connected on three of its next 29 shots over the next 18 minutes of the game as its 14-point advantage turned into a 68-51 deficit with seven minutes to play.
 
That's all after the Mustangs rode Powell's hot start to a 14-point advantage after the Henrietta native knocked in his 16th and 17th point at the charity stripe to give the Mustangs a 31-17 lead 13 minutes into the opening half. He would finish with the same 17 points.
 
Texas A&M-Commerce's balanced attack resulted in six players in double figures as junior guard Reggie Reid dished out a game-high 14 assists finishing while scoring 12 points of his own.
 
Junior forward Trey Conrod led the way with a game-high 23 points, while senior forward Joseph Williams-Powell also had a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds.
 
Srdan Budimir (16 points), Dorian Armstrong (11 points, 9 rebounds) and Willie Rooks (10 points) also scored in double digits for the Lions.
 
Senior Brandon Neel scored 19 points to pace the Mustangs, while Josh Huntley (10 points, six rebounds) and Pullum (10 points, 9 assists) contributed in the scoring column for MSU.
 
Midwestern State feel to 2-7 on the season and to 0-2 in league play.
 
NOTES
- Midwestern State is off to its worst start since the 1988-89 squad started 1-8. MSU also started its first season as a four-year institution at 1-8 in 1946-47 and was also 2-7 in 1956-57.
- Texas A&M-Commerce's field goal percentage (65.5 percent) was the highest by an MSU opponent since eventual national champion Northeastern State (Okla.) shot 69.8 percent in a 92-48 win on Jan. 11, 2003 in Tahlequah.
- Senior forward Nick Powell buried a career-best five 3-pointers to score a season-high 17 points -- all in the first half. The total was just three of his career high of 20 points set last season against St. Gregory's (Okla.).
- Senior guard Brandon Neel notched his sixth double-figure scoring game of the season going for 19 points on 6-of-15 shooting to raise his scoring average to a team-best 17.2 points per game.
- Senior guard Devante Pullum scored in double digits for the fourth straight game finishing with 10 points and season-high nine assists.
- Senior forward Josh Huntley scored in double figures for the third time this season with 10 points and six rebounds before fouling out in 14 minutes.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State takes on Angelo State Thursday night at Junell Center/Stephens Arena in San Angelo. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.