THE RUNDOWN
WICHITA FALLS – Midwestern State played a lights-out first half defensively and shot over 50 percent in the second half to cruise to a 66-44 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Mustangs have won their last three home Lone Star Conference contests to improve to 8-14 overall and 4-8 in league play.
 
The Mustangs held the Javelinas to four field goals and 17 points in the first half, limiting TAMUK to 12.5 percent shooting. Kingsville did most of its damage from the free throw line, going 8-for-13 before the intermission. Despite the strong defensive performance early, MSU took only a five-point edge into the locker room.
 
After expanding the lead to nine with 10 minutes to play, MSU put the game out of reach with a 9-0 run over the next two minutes and a 20-7 run to the 2:43 mark, giving the Mustangs a 61-39 advantage.
 
Midwestern State held the Javelinas to 24.1 percent from the field for the night and 16.0 percent from distance. TAMUK did itself no favors, going 12-of-24 from the free throw line. Conversely, the Mustangs shot 42.6 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Senior guard Devante Pullum led all players with 18 points and six assists. Senior guard Brandon Neel tacked on 15 points and five rebounds while sophomore guard Logan Hicks went for 13 with a trio of daggers from deep. Junior forward Ola Ayodele came up with a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville's Jacolby Harris led the Javelinas with 13 points and six rebounds. He and Caelan Neal (12 points) combined for nine of the team's 14 makes on the night.

NOTES
- Midwestern State improved to 8-14 on the season and 4-8 in Lone Star Conference play with a 66-44 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Thursday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. It was the third-straight home LSC win for MSU.
- MSU shot 42.6 percent from the field, the fourth-straight game the Mustangs have been better than 40 percent.
- Thursday marked the first-time in the last three games the Mustangs failed to record a positive assist/turnover ratio.
- The Mustangs converted 13 turnovers by the Javelinas into 13 points while allowing five points on 14 miscues.
- MSU won the rebound battle, 46-38, marking the ninth-game this season the Mustangs owned the glass.
- Senior guard Devante Pullum produced his 10^th-straight game scoring in double figures, going for 18 points on 50 percent shooting. He has 18 games this season scoring at least 10 points. The Little Elm native added a season-best five rebounds in the win.
- Sophomore guard Logan Hicks went for 13 points on three made triples. The Temple native has four-games this season with at least three made treys.
- Junior forward Ola Ayodele pulled down 10 rebounds giving him three in the last five games. Over that span, he's averaging 9.8 boards per game.
 
UP NEXT
Midwestern State is back in action on Saturday, Feb. 3 against Angelo State at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.