Midwestern State (9-15, 5-9) vs. #8 West Texas A&M (21-2, 11-2)
Lone Star Conference game
Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018 | 4 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
WT leads all-time series 32-27 | 21-8 vs. WT at home | WT has won the last two meetings
Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com | Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Audio: Mustangs Digital Network | Video: Mustangs Digital Network
 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
 
MUSTANGS AGAINST NATIONALLY RANKED OPPOSITION: Midwestern State faces its fifth nationally ranked opponent this season Saturday afternoon against West Texas A&M. The Buffs are ranked 8th in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches' Top 25. MSU is winless in four tries against nationally ranked opponents falling to No. 11 West Texas A&M (83-76) on Jan. 4, to No. 8 UT Permian Basin (88-71) on Jan. 6, to Texas A&M-Commerce (91-88/OT) on Jan. 25 and to No. 13 UT Permian Basin (79-76) on Feb. 8. MSU has lost its last seven games against teams ranked in the NABC Top 25 dating back to an 84-78 win over No. 11 West Texas A&M on Jan. 5, 2017 in Canyon. The Mustangs are 15-20 against nationally ranked opponents during the Nelson Haggerty era.
 
HIGHWAY 287 CHALLENGE CUP SERIES: West Texas A&M leads the 2017-18 version of the Highway 287 Challenge Cup series by a 7-4 count after claiming a sweep of the basketball doubleheader on Jan. 4th in Canyon. The Mustangs have claimed points with wins in men's soccer, volleyball and football. West Texas A&M has claimed the series in three of the four years since the Highway 287 Challenge Cup was created in 2013-14.
 
HONORING THE SENIORS: Midwestern State is set to honor its six seniors in a ceremony following the women's game against West Texas A&M Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The class includes a pair of four-year men in Nick Powell (Henrietta (Texas) High) and Devante Pullum (Little Elm (Texas) High) and four transfers including Brandon Neel (Wright State), Josh Huntley (Stephen F. Austin), Trey Kennedy (Southern Utah) and De'Quaan Haggerty (Allen County CC).
 
MSU DYNAMIC DUO (LSC VERSION): Midwestern State senior guards Brandon Neel and Devante Pullum are combining for just under 34 points a game during Lone Star Conference play. Neel is pouring in 17.6 points per game while shooting 44.3 percent while grabbing 5.4 rebounds a game. The Cincinnati native has scored in double figures in each of his last 16 games and notched at least 20 points nine times this season. Pullum scores 16.1 points during LSC play and is doing it in an efficient manner. The Little Elm native is shooting 44.9 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from the 3-point arc. Pullum, who is second in the league dishing out 4.9 assists per game, has scored in double figures in 11 of his last 12 games and 17 of his last 19.
 
ROLLING BUFFS: West Texas A&M (21-2) has reeled off wins in each of its last five games since taking an 82-74 loss to Tarleton State on Jan. 18th at the First United Bank Center. The Buffs' only other loss came against Lone Star Conference co-leader UT Permian Basin (106-100) on Dec. 5th in Odessa. WT avenged the loss 105-86 last week in Canyon. The Buffs started the season with eight straight wins and have followed with streaks of eight and five consecutive victories. The Buffs are 9-1 when playing away from the First United Bank Center this season.
 
CHAV AND THE CAST: Senior guard David Chavlovich is West Texas A&M's all-time leading scorer with 2,226 points and is NCAA Division II's active leader in 3-point makes with 353. This season, the Arlington Bowie High grad is second in the Lone Star Conference and 49th nationally in scoring at 20.1 points per game. He is one of a quartet of Buffs averaging in double figures joined by senior guard Jordan Evans (16.5 ppg), junior forward Ryan Quaid (14.5 ppg, 10.8 rpg) and freshman forward Gaige Prim (10.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg).