Midwestern State vs #11 West Texas A&M
MSU Texas (6-13, 2-7), WTAMU (19-3, 8-1)
Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019 | 7:30 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Series Info: WT leads series 39-32 | WT has won the last four games in the series since MSU Texas last won 84-78 on 1/5/17 at Ligon Coliseum | MSU won nine straight in Wichita Falls before WT's 87-58 win last season | MSU Texas is 18-6 against the Buffaloes at Ligon Coliseum
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Audio/Video: Mustangs Digital Network | Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com
 
THE OPPONENT: West Texas A&M rides a four-game winning streak into Thursday's game at Midwestern State… The Buffs claimed wins in nine of their last 10 games… Each of WT's three losses this season have come on the road including a 77-72 loss at Western State (Colo.) (11/9), a 68-65 loss at Lubbock Christian (12/6) and an 86-74 loss at Texas A&M-Kingsville (1/10)… The Buffs are 5-3 on the road this season… West Texas A&M ranks among the tops in NCAA Division II in producing 3s and frees with 666 3-point attempts (tops in NCAA D2) and 510 free throw attempts (tops in LSC, fourth in NCAA D2)… The Buffs also top the LSC and rank 10th nationally wit 217 made 3-pointers, but rank 247th in D2 in 3-point field goal percentage (32.6 percent)… WT tops the Lone Star Conference and is 14th in D2 in turnover margin (+4.8) and commit the fewest turnovers in the league (11.3 per game)… Senior forward Ryan Quaid leads the Buffs and ranks fifth in the LSC scoring 15.7 points per game… Quaid is coming off of a career-high 30-point performance at Eastern New Mexico (1/22) and scored 29 points with 10 rebounds earlier this season against Midwestern State (12/1)… Senior guard Gach Gach leads the LSC in 3-pointers attempted (178) and made (55) averaging 12.5 points per game… Freshman guard Qua Grant scored in double figures in each of his last five games to up his season average to 12.3 points per game… Freshman guard Joel Murray (11.6 ppg) earned LSC Offensive Player of the Week honors after scoring 20 points and dishing out nine assists against Tarleton State (1/19)… Senior guard Brandon Hall has scored at least 11 points in each of his last 10 games to pull his season average to 10.5 points per game… Tom Brown sports a 115-38 record (.752) in his fifth season as head coach at West Texas A&M…
 
LAST TIME OUT: Angelo State used a game-closing 25-3 run to overtake Midwestern State 72-67 Saturday at Junell Center/Stephens Arena. The Mustangs matched their largest lead of the game when JaJuan Starks converted a layup for a 64-47 lead with 5:40 to go, but didn't score a field goal the rest of the way. Junior forward Gilbert Thomas scored a season-high 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds – all in the first half – to lead the Mustangs. Junior guard D'monta Harris chipped in 13 points and five boards off of the bench, while junior forward Bishop Coulter had 11 points and six rebounds.
 
HAGGERTY CLAIMS 150TH WIN: Midwestern State boasts a 152-81 mark (.652) 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: The Mustangs posted a 2-7 mark through the first loop of LSC play... MSU has held double digit leads in each of the last four games losing a 17-point lead 5:40 to play at Angelo State on Saturday after seeing a 12-point lead with 3:23 to go disappear last week at Cameron... The Mustangs opened with a 16-2 run through the first 6 1/2 minutes Thursday at Texas A&M-Kingsville... Midwestern State has held a lead in all 19 games this season... The Mustangs limited their last three opponents to 37.6 percent shooting from the field (71-of-189) and 28.6 percent from the arc (16-of-56) with single game percentage of .403 against Cameron, .323 against Texas A&M-Kingsville and .400 versus Angelo State... MSU Texas has out-rebounded five of its last six opponents... The Mustangs were a combined -17 on turnover differential in losses at Texas A&M-Kingsville and Angelo State... Texas A&M-Kingsville held a 30-9 edge in points off of turnovers, while Angelo State held a 30-16 advantage including a 12 points off of turnovers during a game closing 25-3 run over the final 5:40... The Mustangs are 1-6 in road games this season and have lost last six… MSU Texas beat Colorado State-Pueblo 92-66 for its only road win of the season on Nov. 16… MSU Texas ranks third in the LSC and 53rd in NCAA Division II with 12.53 offensive rebounds per game converting those into 12.5 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 five of the last six games… MSU Texas is 5-3 in games they lead at the half and 1-10 when the game is tied (0-1) or if trailing (1-9) 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 fifth overall in the Lone Star Conference in scoring at 15.1 points per game… rates seventh in the LSC scoring 16.1 points per game during league play… shoots 46.8 percent from the field… connected on 32-of-80 3-pointers (40 percent)… played in each of MSU Texas' 19 games including starts in the last 13… team's top scorer in 10 games including in eight of his 13 starts… scored in double figures 13 times this season logging at least 20 in five games… grabbed at least five rebounds in 13 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 16.5 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 four of his last five games going 12-for-24 from the arc (50 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' 19 games making 18 starts at point guard… averaging 5.2 points in 26.5 minutes per game… ranks second in the Lone Star Conference averaging 4.3 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) then matched the total at Angelo State (1/26)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 15 vs. Adams State (11/17)
Assists: 8 vs. Arkansas-Fort Smith (11/21)
Rebounds: 8, twice, last at Angelo State (1/26)
 
#2 TRAE JONES (6-4 // 165 // Redshirt Freshman // Guard // Wichita Falls, Texas):  Competed in 18 games while making seven starts… averaging 5.7 points per game knocking down 23 3-pointers… made at least two triples in seven games… ranks 24th in the Lone Star Conference with 1.3 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 17 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 18 games at guard… averages 12.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 31.7 minutes per game… rated 13th in the LSC during league play scoring 14.1 points per game before missing Angelo State game (1/26) due to injury… red hot from the arc during league play in 3-point percentage (17-of-38 // 44.7 percent) and 10th in 3-point makes per game (2.1)… 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 10 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 16 games making two starts at guard… averaging 6.7 points on 41-of-98 shooting (41.8 percent) in 17.9 minutes per game… leads all active teammates in +/- at +2.12 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)… scored 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting with four assists and three rebounds at Texas A&M-Kingsville (1/24)...
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 19 games making lone start of the season at West Texas A&M (12/1)… averaging 6.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game… scored 10-or-more points in five 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)… connected on 5-of-10 shots from the field with a 3-pointer to notch his high-point game during LSC play with 13 points and five rebounds at Angelo State (1/26)… 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' 19 games at forward… scores 8.8 points in 21.4 minutes per game… ranks second in the Lone Star Conference pulling down 8.1 boards per game… scored in double figures in 10 games this season with three point/rebound double-doubles…  went for season-high 17 points on 4-of-5 shooting with two 3-pointers and grabbed seven rebounds – all in the first half – at Angelo State (1/26)… 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: 17 at Angelo State (1/26)
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 seven 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)… played season-high five minutes scoring two points at Angelo State (1/26)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 3 vs. Western New Mexico (1/12)
Assists: 1 vs. Eastern New Mexico (11/29)
Rebounds: 1, twice, last at Angelo State (11/26)
 
#25 TAYVION JOHNSON (6-6 // 196 // Freshman // Forward // Houston, Texas): Played in six 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 four games at guard since joining the team at the beginning of the spring semester… averaging 4.0 points in 11.3 minutes per game... 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 18 games making 16 starts at forward… averaging 10.3 points and 5.7 rebounds in 25.8 minutes per game… Ranks seventh in the Lone Star Conference with 2.5 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 10 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)… led team in scoring with 12 points while pulling down six rebounds on 5-of-10 shooting with a 3-pointer at Texas A&M-Kingsville (1/24)... knocked down a 3-pointer while scoring in double figures in each of his last four games...
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 takes on Eastern New Mexico in Lone Star Conference play Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.