THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS – Midwestern State distributed a season-high 21 assists in a 79-69 win over St. Mary's on Monday evening at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Four players recorded at least three dimes in the win.
 
The Mustangs and Rattlers played even for the first eight minutes before MSU started to pull away. Tied at 17, the Maroon and Gold strung together a 14-3 run over the next seven minutes to take the lead for good. Although the Rattlers would twice pull within four in the closing minutes of the first half, the Mustangs never relinquished the lead, going into the half with a 38-31 advantage.
 
Both teams exchanged layups out of the break, but the Mustangs were able to convert early and often in the second half, cruising to a 23-point lead with 11:29 to play after an 18-4 run gave MSU a sizable cushion.
 
The Rattlers would pull within five with just over six minutes to play on a 19-4 run, including a three-point barrage from St. Mary's Nikau McCullough, but the Mustangs answered with a 7-0 run to put the game out of reach.
 
Senior guards Brandon Neel and Devante Pullum combined for 48 points on 66.7 percent shooting with 10 rebounds, seven assists, three steals and a block. Junior forward Ola Ayodele matched Pullum with a team-leading five assists.
 
St. Mary's Juwan Green led the Rattlers with 18 points while McCullough went 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.

NOTES
- Midwestern State improved to 7-14 on the season with the 79-69 victory over St. Mary's on Monday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- MSU improved to 4-2 at home on the season and 1-0 on the current five-game homestand.
- The Mustangs had a season-high 21 assists on 32 makes, converting assists on 65.6 percent of their made field goals. Additionally, MSU committed just 10 turnovers, good for a 2.1:1 assist/turnover ratio, the best of the season.
- MSU scored 28 points off 17 turnovers by the Rattlers, while allowing 14 off 10 miscues.
- The Maroon and Gold allowed just 10 shots from the free throw line, the fewest shot against the Mustangs this season.
- Senior guard Brandon Neel recorded his eighth-game scoring at least 20 points and the fourth-time in the last six games. He shot 64.7 percent and led the team with seven rebounds.
- Senior guard Devante Pullum had his second-straight 21-point game, going 7-of-10 from the floor and 3-for-5 from deep. It was his third-time in the last four games to shoot better than 60 percent from beyond the arc.
- Junior forward Ola Ayodele scored eight points, marking the sixth-straight game he's scored at least five. Prior to the Jan. 11 contest against Western New Mexico, Ayodele had two points all season. He has 45 in the last six games.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State is back in action on Thursday, Feb. 1 against Texas A&M-Kingsville at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.