Midwestern State (2-7, 0-2) vs. Angelo State (6-2, 0-1)
Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017 | 7:30 p.m.
Junell Center / Stephens Arena | San Angelo, Texas
Live Stats: AngeloSports.com |
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM |
Audio: Mustangs Digital Network |
Video: AngeloSports.com
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- Midwestern State goes for its first Lone Star Conference win Thursday night against Angelo State at the Junell Center in San Angelo.
- The Mustangs look to shake a four-game slide since winning back-to-back games against Western State (Colo.) (123-121/2OT) and Southwestern Assemblies of God (96-72).
- MSU has lost its last five Lone Star Conference games on the road --- four of those by single digits. The Mustangs last LSC win away from Ligon Coliseum was a 108-104 OT win at Eastern New Mexico on Jan. 14, 2017.
- The Mustangs top the Lone Star Conference in offensive rebounds per game (13.2) and steals per game (9.3).
- Midwestern is fourth in the league in scoring at 82.8 points per game, but 10th in scoring defense allowing 87.6 points a game.
- MSU ranks 75th in NCAA D2 in scoring at 82.8 points per game. The Mustangs have scored 80-or-more points in six games this season.
- The Mustangs are 11th nationally in total steals (84) and 21st in steals per game (9.3). The Mustangs score 21 points per game off of turnovers which accounts for 25.4 percent of the team's scoring.
- Midwestern has proven adept at getting to the free throw line ranking 28th nationally in free throws made (156) and 32nd in free throws attempted (214). That's an average of 23.8 free throws a contest.
- Senior guard Brandon Neel ranks seventh in the LSC and 170th in NCAA Division II in scoring at 17.2 points per game.
- Neel boasts six games with at least 10 points this season three games of 20-or-more. He poured in a season-high 30 points at Western State (Colo.), had 27 versus Southwestern Assemblies of God and 26 against Colorado Mesa.
- Neel tops MSU and is 10th in the LSC pulling down 6.3 rebounds per game.
- Sophomore guard Logan Hicks ranks second on the team notching double-figure in each of MSU's first seven games this season. He had a season-high 19 points in the opener against Arkansas-Fort Smith. He is shooting 43.4 percent from the field and 43.2 percent from the arc (19-for-44).
- Senior guard Trey Kennedy gives the Mustangs a third double-figure scorer at 10.9 points per game. He scored 10-or-more points in five games including a season-best 25 points on 11-of-25 shooting against Western State on Nov. 18th. He put up performances of 17 points against Saint Leo and 14 versus Florida Southern at the Florida Southern Thanksgiving Classic.
- Senior guard Devante Pullum leads the LSC in assists per game at 4.9 and is third in steals per game with 2.0. The Little Elm High product has scored in double figures in each of his last four games including a campaign-best 16-point, 7-assists, 6-steal effort against Tarleton State on Nov. 30th.
- Pullum is averaging 12.3 points, 5.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game over his last four outings while shooting 39.6 percent from the field (19-of-48).
- Senior forward Nick Powell has scored at least eight points in six of nine games this season and is averaging 8.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in 21.2 minutes per game.
- Powell buried his first five 3-pointers against Texas A&M-Commerce on Dec. 2nd to finish with a season-high 17 points and also grabbed seven rebounds.
- Midwestern State and Angelo State meet for the 77th time on the hardwood Thursday night at Junell Center/Stephens Arena.
- The Mustangs won a 46-30 edge in the series which dates back to 1965-66 season, but the Rams have won six of the last eight including a season sweep in 2016-17.
- Midwestern State is 14-22 all-time against ASU in San Angelo including a 7-8 mark against the Rams in Junell Center.
- Angelo State has won the last four games against the Mustangs in the Junell Center and six of the last eight dating back to the 2009-10 season. Midwestern's last victory came by a 65-55 count on Jan. 5, 2013.
- Angelo State has dropped its last two since starting the campaign with six straight wins.
- The Rams boast a 21-8 home record (.724) with Cinco Boone at the helm.
- ASU ranks third in the LSC in both scoring average (84.8 points per game) and scoring defense (72.3 points per game) for an average scoring margin of +12.5 – second in the LSC.
- North Texas transfer Ja'Michael Brown leads Angelo State in scoring at 16.1 points per game which is ninth in the LSC. The 6-2 guard also dishes out 4.1 assists a contest. He has scored 20-or-more points four times this season including a high of 30 versus St. Mary's on Nov. 21st.
- The Rams boast six players averaging at least 9.0 points a game including Brown, junior forward James Kirksey (12.4 points, 5.9 rebounds), senior forward Brandon Williams (11.3 points, 5.6 rebounds), junior guard Daron Mims (10.8 points, 3.3 rebounds), junior forward Will Adler (10.5 points) and junior forward Antonio Singleton (9.0 points, 3.1 rebounds).
-- MSUMustangs.com --
