Midwestern State vs Texas A&M-Kingsville
MSU Texas (6-11, 2-5), TAMUK (8-7, 4-3)
Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 | 7:30 p.m.
Gil. E. Steinke Physical Education Center | Kingsville, Texas
Series Info: MSU Texas leads series 37-12 | MSU Texas has won 21 of the last 22 dating back to the 2008-09 season including a season sweep in 2017-18 | TAMUK's only win since 2008-09 was a 60-59 victory on 2/2/17 in Kingsville | MSU Texas is 15-7 against the Javelinas at the Steinke Physical Education Center
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Video: None | Audio: Mustangs Digital Network | Live Stats: JavelinaAthletics.com
 
THE OPPONENT: Texas A&M-Kingsville rides a season long four-game winning streak into Thursday's Lone Star Conference game with Midwestern State… The Javelinas own two wins over nationally ranked opposition this season beating then-No. 21 St. Edward's 69-58 on Nov. 24 in Austin, then beat No. 8 West Texas A&M 86-74 on Jan. 10 in Kingsville.. The Hoggies boast the fourth-best field goal percentage defene in NCAA Division II limiting opponents to 38.4 percent shooting… TAMUK has held the opposition below 40-percent shooting in nine of 15 games… The Javelinas lead the Lone Star Conference in scoring defense (66.8 ppg // 27th in NCAA D2); blocked shots per game (4.5 // 23rd in NCAA D2) and turnovers forced (17.53 // 23rd in NCAA D2)… Twelve different players average 13.5 minutes or more on the floor, while only four play more than 20 minutes per game but none more than 22.3… Senior forward Robert Stevenson (7.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg) was a 2017-18 LSC All-Defensive Team performer ranks second in the league in blocked shots per game (1.73/36th in D2) and sixth in rebounds per game… Freshman guard Darius Mickens leads the Hoggies in scoring with 9.3 points per game in 21.1 minutes off of the bench… Mickens scored in double figures in each of his last five games and is coming off of a season-high 21 points at UT Permian Basin… Mickens ranks sixth in the LSC with 1.67 steals per game… Johnny Estelle boasts a 58-69 record (.457) in his fifth season as the helm at Texas A&M-Kingsville… Estelle won two letters at TAMUK (1994-96), earned second-team All-LSC honors and was the MVP of the 1996 LSC Postseason Tournament…
 
LAST TIME OUT: Cameron closed a 16-3 run with a 3-pointer from the right wing with 1.8 seconds remaining to beat Midwestern State 71-70 on Tuesday, Jan. 15 at Aggie Gym. The run spoiled a great turnaround for the Mustangs, who spun an 18-point first-half deficit into a 67-55 lead with 3:23 to play. Senior guard JaJuan Starks poured in a game-high 17 points including three 3-pointers, while junior forward Gilbert Thomas notched his third double-double of the season with 11 points and an LSC season-best 18 rebounds. Junior forward Bishop Coulter (12 points, 8 rebounds) and junior guard Josh Wallace (11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) were also in double digits.
 
HAGGERTY CLAIMS 150TH WIN: Midwestern State boasts a 152-79 mark (.658) in Nelson Haggerty's eighth season as head coach. He has led the Mustangs to the NCAA postseason in five of his seven seasons including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2012 and four LSC championships in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016. Haggerty claimed his second LSC Coach of the Year award in 2016 sharing honors with former Cameron coach Nate Gamet. He also claimed the honor in 2012.
 
HAGGERTY'S MILESTONE WINS
First: Mid-American Christian // W, 100-63 // Ligon Coliseum // Nov. 11, 2011
50TH: Incarnate Word // W, 85-73 // Allen, Texas // March 8, 2013 (LSC Semifinals)
100TH: Adams State // W, 95-87 // Alamosa, Colo. // Nov. 21, 2015
150TH: Oklahoma Christian // W, 88-82 (OT) // Ligon Coliseum // Dec. 18, 2018
 
TRENDS: Midwestern State suffered its second one-point loss of the season last week at Cameron – both were on 3-pointers in the final 10 seconds of play… UAFS' Tyler Williams hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 8 seconds to play give the Lions a 64-63 win in the Nissan of Wichita Falls Classic on Nov. 10… Cameron's Tyus Momoh's triple with 1.8 seconds left gave the Aggies a 71-70 victory… The Mustangs are 1-4 in road games this season and have lost last four… Midwestern has held at lead in every game this season… MSU Texas beat Colorado State-Pueblo 92-66 for its only road win of the season on Nov. 16… MSU Texas ranks second in the LSC and 24th in NCAA Division II with 13.53 offensive rebounds per game converting those into 12.4 second-chance points per game… MSU Texas matched its best rebound margin of the season (+16) on Jan. 10 against UT Permian Basin which came into the game leading the LSC and ranking ninth in NCAA D2 at +9.9… The Mustangs have carried rebound advantage in each of the last four games… MSU Texas is 5-2 in games they lead at the half and 1-9 when the game is tied (0-1) or if trailing (1-8) at the break… Midwestern State claimed an 88-82 win over Oklahoma Christian in its first overtime game of the season on Dec. 19th… The Mustangs were 2-1 in overtime games last season claiming victories at Western State (Colo.) and against Eastern New Mexico with the loss coming at Texas A&M-Commerce…
 
PLAYER NOTES
 
#0 JAJUAN STARKS (6-5 // 215 // Junior // Guard // Fort Wayne, Ind.): Leads Mustangs and ranks third overall in the Lone Star Conference in scoring at 15.9 points per game… leads the LSC scoring 18.4 points per game during league play… shoots 47.5 percent from the field… connected on 31-of-73 3-pointers (42.5 percent)… played in each of MSU Texas' 17 games including starts in the last 11… team's top scorer in 10 games including in eight of his 10 starts… scored in double figures 13 times this season logging at least 20 in five games… grabbed at least five rebounds in 12 games setting a season high with a 21-point, 12-rebound double-double against Oklahoma Christian (12/19)… delivered a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds in a win over UT Permian Basin (1/10)… averaging 18.1 points per game as a starter boasting high scoring games of 26 points against Eastern New Mexico (11/29) and 25 versus Mid-America Christian (12/17)… scored 21 of his game-high 23 points against Tarleton State in the second half shooting 8-of-13 from the field with three 3-pointers… knocked down three 3-pointers in each of his last four games going 12-for-21 from the arc (57.1 percent)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 26 vs. Eastern New Mexico (11/29)
Assists: 4, twice, last vs. Mid-America Christian (12/17)
Rebounds: 12 vs. Oklahoma Christian (12/19)
 
#1 ELIJAH LEE (5-11 // 165 // Junior // Guard // Missouri City, Texas): Played in each of MSU Texas' 17 games making 16 starts at point guard… averaging 5.3 points in 25.6 minutes per game… ranks second in  the Lone Star Conference averaging 4.4 assists per game… scored in double figures four times… poured in season-high of 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting three 3-pointers in 28 minutes against Adams State (11/17)… registered at least five assists nine times this season… scored seven points, dished out six assists and grabbed a season-high eight rebounds against Texas A&M-Commerce (1/3)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 15 vs. Adams State (11/17)
Assists: 8 vs. Arkansas-Fort Smith (11/21)
Rebounds: 8 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce (1/3)
 
#2 TRAE JONES (6-4 // 165 // Redshirt Freshman // Guard // Wichita Falls, Texas):  Competed in 16 games while making seven starts… averaging 6.2 points per game knocking down 22 3-pointers… made at least two triples in seven games… ranks 21st in the Lone Star Conference with 1.4 made 3-pointers per game… scored in double figures five times… buried a season-high four triples (on eight attempts) on his way to matching a season-high of 14 points against Ouachita Baptist (11/24)… connected on three triples on eight attempts for a season-high 14 points at Colorado State-Pueblo (11/16)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 14 vs. Colorado State-Pueblo (11/16); Ouachita Baptist (11/24)
Assists: 2, three times, last vs. USAO (12/19)
Rebounds: 2, five times, last vs. Ouachita Baptist (11/24)
 
#3 DARIUS THOMPSON (6-3 // 190 // Senior // Guard // Memphis, Tenn.):  Saw action in the Mustangs' first two games of the season… missed the last 15 games due to injury… scored 15 points on 3-of-5 shooting with three 3-pointers to lead MSU Texas to a season opening win over Rogers State (11/9)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 15 vs. Rogers State (11/9)
Assists: 2 vs. Rogers State (11/9)
Rebounds: 3 vs. Rogers State (11/9)
 
#4 DORIAN CHATMAN (6-7 // 230 // Junior // Guard // Port Arthur, Texas): Competed in 13 games making one start at forward… averaging 4.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per game… poured in a season-high 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting with a 3-pointer against Southern Nazarene (11/23)… come on strong to grab 15 rebounds over the last two games with seven at Eastern New Mexico (11/29) and eight at West Texas A&M (12/1)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 15 vs. Southern Nazarene (11/23)
Assists: 1, four times, last vs. West Texas A&M (12/1)
Rebounds: 8 vs. West Texas A&M (12/1)
 
#5 JOSH WALLACE (6-3 // 195 // Junior // Guard // Queens, N.Y.):  Started all 17 games at guard… averages 12.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 32.5 minutes per game… rates 10th in the LSC during league play scoring 15.3 points per game… red hot from the arc during league play in 3-point percentage (17-of-38 // 44.7 percent) and sixth in 3-point makes per game (2.4)… named Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week after helping Mustangs to wins over Colorado State-Pueblo (11/16) and Adams State (11/17) at the Al Kaly Shrine Classic in Pueblo… scored in double figures 11 times this season… poured in a season-high 19 points on 5-of-11 shooting with three triples at West Texas A&M (12/1)… fell just short of a triple double going for 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists while connecting on 12-of-15 from the free-throw line in a win over UT Permian Basin (1/10)… knocked down a season-high five 3-pointers to finish a team-high 18 points against Texas A&M-Commerce (1/3)… buried three triples to finishing with 15 points against Tarleton State (1/5)… fired in 23-of-47 (48.9 percent) from the arc 3-point attempts over the last nine games burying at least two triples in eight games during the run… posted at least five rebounds in six games… has at four assists in nine games…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 19 vs. West Texas A&M (12/1)
Assists: 7, three times, last vs. Western New Mexico (1/12)
Rebounds: 9, two times, last vs. UT Permian Basin (1/10)
 
#10 TERRELL WILSON (5-11 // 180 // Freshman // Guard // Houston, Texas): Competed in 14 games making one start at guard… averaging 6.4 points on 34-of-87 shooting (39.1 percent) in 17.6 minutes per game… leads all active teammates in +/- at +3.79 per game… connected on 5-of-11 shots with two 3-pointers finishing with 14 points and five assists against Tarleton State (1/5)… used a strong performance from the charity stripe (7-of-8) to tally 13 points at West Texas A&M (12/1)… went 4-of-5 from the field and 2-of-3 from the charity stripe to score 10 points against Western New Mexico (1/12)… broke out with an 8-point effort on 4-of-8 shooting against Southern Nazarene (11/23)… earned first start against Mid-America Christian (12/17) scoring six points and dishing out four assists in 25 minutes… connected on first two 3-pointers of the season to finish with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting with four rebounds against Science & Arts (Okla.) (12/29)…dished out a season-high six assists with no turnovers in a season-high 31 minutes against Texas A&M-Commerce (1/3)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 14 vs. Tarleton State (1/5)
Assists: 6 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce (1/3)
Rebounds: 4 vs. Science & Arts (Okla.) (12/29)
 
#13 D'MONTA HARRIS (6-5 // 206 // Junior // Guard // Pontiac, Mich.): Played in 17 games making lone start of the season at West Texas A&M (12/1)… averaging 6.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per game… scored 10-or-more points in four games… connected on 9-of-10 shots from the field for a season-high 19 points with eight rebounds in a win over Colorado State-Pueblo (11/16)… buried a season-high three 3-pointers to score 11 points in 19 minutes against Ouachita Baptist (11/24)… knocked down two triples to score 10 points with seven rebounds against Eastern New Mexico (11/29)… buried three 3-pointers to finish with 13 points and seven rebounds against Mid-America Christian (12/17)… connected on two 3-pointers to finish with eight points and was a +18 in 20 minutes of a win over UT Permian Basin (1/10)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 19 vs. Colorado State-Pueblo (11/16)
Assists: 2, four times, last vs. Mid-America Christian (12/17)
Rebounds: 8 vs. Colorado State-Pueblo (11/16)
 
#22 GILBERT THOMAS, JR. (6-6 // 225 // Junior // Forward // Houston, Texas):  Started each of MSU Texas' 17 games at forward… scores 8.2 points in 20.6 minutes per game… ranks second in the Lone Star Conference pulling down 8.3 boards per game… scored in double figures in eight games this season with three point/rebound double-doubles…  recorded first double-double of season with season-high 14 points with 11 rebounds against Science & Arts (Okla.) (12/29)… notched double-double with 13 points and a season-high 16 rebounds in a win over UT Permian Basin (1/10)… scored 12 points against Adams State (11/17) and Eastern New Mexico (11/29)… recorded third double-double of the season with 11 points and an LSC single-game high 18 rebounds against Cameron (1/15)… grabbed at least seven rebounds seven times with 10-or-more on five occasions… grabbed 15 rebounds against Southern Nazarene (11/23)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 14 vs. Science & Arts (Okla.) (12/29)
Assists: 3 vs. Science & Arts (Okla.) (12/29)
Rebounds: 18 vs. Cameron (1/15)
 
#23 CASE CALDWELL (5-10 // 165 // Redshirt Freshman // Guard // Burkburnett, Texas): Played in six games as a reserve guard… scored first collegiate bucket at Colorado State-Pueblo (11/16)… drilled first collegiate 3-pointer from the right corner against Western New Mexico (1/12)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 3 vs. Western New Mexico (1/12)
Assists: 1 vs. Eastern New Mexico (11/29)
Rebounds: 1 vs. Eastern New Mexico (11/29)
 
#25 TAYVION JOHNSON (6-6 // 196 // Freshman // Forward // Houston, Texas): Played in four games as a reserve forward… blocked two shots against Western New Mexico (1/12)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: None
Assists: None
Rebounds: 1 vs. West Texas A&M (12/1)
 
#33 JARED EVANS (6-2 // 200 // Sophomore // Guard // Houston, Texas): Competed in two games at guard since joining the team at the beginning of the spring semester… Connected on first three shots – two were three-point plays – to score 11 points in MSU Texas debut against Western New Mexico (1/12)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 11 vs. Western New Mexico (1/12)
Assists: 2 vs. Western New Mexico (1/12)
Rebounds: 2 vs. Cameron (1/15)
 
#50 BISHOP COULTER (6-7 // 230 // Junior // Forward // Atoka, Okla.):  Played in 16 games making 14 starts at forward… averaging 10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds in 24.8 minutes per game… Ranks fourth in the Lone Star Conference with 2.81 offensive rebounds per game… earned Lone Star Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors after earning Al Kaly Shrine Classic MVP honors averaging 17 points and 6.5 rebounds in wins over Colorado State-Pueblo (11/16) and Adams State (11/17)… scored in double figures nine times including a campaign-best 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting with seven rebounds against Colorado State-Pueblo (11/16)… narrowly missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds against Arkansas-Fort Smith (11/21)… had 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting with seven rebounds against Ouachita Baptist (11/24)… connected on 5-of-8 shots from the field to score 13 points and snag seven rebounds against Western New Mexico (1/12)… scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting with a 3-pointer while grabbing eight rebounds against Cameron (1/15)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 21 vs. Colorado State-Pueblo (11/16)
Assists: 3 vs. UT Permian Basin (1/10)
Rebounds: 9 vs. Arkansas-Fort Smith (11/21)
 
MUSTANGS ON ESPN 95.5:  Every Midwestern State men's basketball will air live on ESPN 95.5 FM beginning the pregame show 15 minutes prior to tipoff.
 
MUSTANGS DIGITAL NETWORK: All Midwestern State home games are set for broadcast on the Mustangs Digital Network both live and on demand at MSUMustangs.tv. Season passes are available for $30 while single games run $9 each.
 
FOLLOW US: Follow news, notes and photos for all Midwestern State athletic teams on MSUMustangs.com or on social media at MSUMustangs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 
COMING UP NEXT… Midwestern State finishes the South Texas road swing Saturday afternoon at Angelo State at Junell Center/Stephens Arena in San Angelo. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.