Midwestern State (7-14, 3-8) vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville (11-9, 4-6)
Lone Star Conference game
Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018 | 7:30 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
MSU leads all-time series 36-12 | 17-5 vs. TAMUK at home | MSU has won 20 of 21 since 2009
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com | Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Audio: Mustangs Digital Network | Video: Mustangs Digital Network
 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
 
THE BUCKET MAN: Senior guard Brandon Neel is lighting the scoreboard. The Cincinnati native scored 20-or-more points in four of his last six games. During the six-game run, Neel sports averages of 21.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting 55.6 percent from the field (50-of-90) including 9-of-25 (36 percent) from the 3-point arc. Neel has scored 20-or-more points eight times this season including back-to-back 27-point efforts the last two times out against Tarleton State and St. Mary's. He scored a season-high 30 against Western State Colorado on Nov. 18th. Neel is fourth in the Lone Star Conference with a season scoring average of 18.6 points per game.
 
DEVANTE DOES IT ALL: Senior guard Devante Pullum is on a scoring roll splashing in double digits in each of his last nine games. During the stretch, the Little Elm native scored 24 at West Texas A&M and is coming off of back-to-back 21-point efforts against Tarleton State and St. Mary's. Over his last nine games, Pullum is second on the team scoring 17.7 points and leads the squad with just under four assists a game. He is shooting 51.5 percent from the field (51-of-99) during the run and is an even 50 percent from the 3-point arc (22-of-44). Pullum is sixth in the LSC scoring 17.3 points per game during league play.
 
OLA THE STARTER: Junior forward Ola Ayodele has been out point since entering the starting lineup four games ago. The London, England native is averaging 8.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 31.8 minutes per game as a starter. Ayodele snagged a team season-best 14 rebounds in his first start at Cameron, then recorded his first double-digit effort narrowly missing a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds at Texas A&M-Commerce. He was a point shy of the double-double mark with nine points and 10 rebounds Tarleton State before showing his best all-around game with eight points, six rebounds and five assists Monday against St. Mary's. He season averages remain at 3.1 points and 3.3 rebounds over 15 total appearances.
 
STRUGGLING OUT OF THE BREAK: Texas A&M-Kingsville has dropped six of eight games coming out of the Christmas Break beginning with a 72-68 setback against Midwestern State on Dec. 30th.  The Javelinas roared out of the gate with an 8-0 start after advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional last season.
 
SIZZLIN' SUMPTER: Texas A&M-Kingsville senior Trey Sumpter plays his 103rd career game for the Hoggies Thursday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Birmingham, Ala. native stands to make his 51st start since the beginning of last season. Sumpter paces the Javelinas in scoring at 11.2 points per game and has scored in double digits 10 times this season with a high of 26 at Tarleton State (1/6). He scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds the first time through against Midwestern State.