Midwestern State (9-16, 5-10) vs. Eastern New Mexico (10-13, 5-9)
Lone Star Conference game
Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018 | 8:30 p.m.
Greyhound Arena | Portales, N.M.
MSU leads all-time series 33-16 | 14-9 vs. ENMU on road | MSU has won 12 of last 13 since 2012
Live Stats: GoEasternAthletics.com | Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Audio: Mustangs Digital Network | Video: GoEasternAthletics.com
 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
 
CLINCHING AN LSC POSTSEASON BERTH: Midwestern State clinches a spot in the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament with a combination of three MSU wins and Texas A&M-Kingsville losses. The Mustangs can reach no higher than the No. 6 seed. The LSC Postseason Tournament runs from March 2-4 at the Dr Pepper Center in Frisco, Texas.
 
CAGING THE HOUNDS: Midwestern State's mastery of Eastern New Mexico is supreme. The Mustangs claimed wins in 20 of the last 22 meetings with the Hounds dating back to the 2006-07 season. ENMU claimed one win in each venue winning in Portales in 2012 and in Wichita Falls last season. Midwestern has been victorious in its last five trips to Greyhound Arena and 10 of 11 times since 2007.
 
MR. BUCKETS: Midwestern State senior Brandon Neel has scored in double figures in each of his last 17 games and notched at least 20 points nine times this season. During the 17-game run, Neel is averaging 19.1 points per game while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and has knocked down 63-of-88 (71.6 percent) from the charity stripe. The Cincinnati, Ohio native has worked his way up to fourth on the Lone Star Conference scoring chart at 18.4 points per game.
 
ENMU WINNING THE BIG ONES AT HOME: Eastern New Mexico has won its last three games at Greyhound Arena knocking down Angelo State (92-89), Tarleton State (61-57) and Texas A&M-Commerce (85-81/OT) before falling to Western New Mexico last week in Silver City. Like MSU, the Hounds sport a -3.0 scoring margin with six of their 13 losses coming by single digits. ENMU could clinch a spot in the LSC Postseason Tournament with home victories over MSU and Cameron this week.
 
THOMPSON TOPS HOUNDS: Senior guard Lamarquis Thompson paces the Eastern New Mexico attack scoring 11.5 points per game while shooting 54.5 percent from the field, 47.1 percent from the arc and 89.5 percent from the charity stripe. The Manor (Texas) High grad has knocked down a 3-pointer in all put two games this season. Thompson buried a season-best four triples the first time through against Midwestern State on his way to a 17-point, 6-rebound performance.