Midwestern State at Western New Mexico
MSU Texas (6-17, 2-11), WNMU (4-15, 1-11)
Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019 | 8:30 p.m.
Drag's Court | Silver City, N.M.
Series Info: MSU Texas leads series 11-1 | The Mustangs won the first meeting this season – 88-70 – in Wichita Falls (1/12/19) | WNMU's only win of the series came last season in Silver City – 86-84 on 2/17/18 | Midwestern State is 3-1 all-time against WNMU in Silver City
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Video: WNMUMustangs.com | Audio: Mustangs Digital Network | Live Stats: WNMUMustangs.com
 
THE OPPONENT: Western New Mexico lost the last four games and 14 of the last 15 with the only win during the stretch coming at Texas A&M-Commerce (74-73/OT) on Jan. 24… WNMU is 0-7 at Drag's Court this season with their last home win coming against Midwestern State – 86-84 – on 2/17/18… The Mustangs are 4-44 in Lone Star Conference games since joining the league in 2016-17…  WNMU ranks third in the LSC in 3-point field goal defense (31.6 / 30th in D2), fourth in turnovers forced (16.0 / 44th in D2), fifth in steals per game (7.7 / 64th in D2) and sixth in free throw attempts (465 / 80th in D2)… Senior forward Jon-Reese Woodson leads WNMU scoring 12.3 points per game and grabbing 5.2 rebounds a game… Senior guard Willie McCray adds 11.2 points per game… Senior forward Leston Gordon averages 7.0 points and 4.9 rebounds a game while ranking third in the LSC and 70th in NCAA D2 swatting 1.30 shots per game… Matt Enriquez has posted a 12-60 record (.167) in his third season at the helm for Western New Mexico…
 
MSU VS. WESTERN NEW MEXICO (PART 1): Senior guard JaJuan Starks led a pack of five Midwestern State players in double figures scoring 19 points and grabbing six rebounds in an 88-70 win over Western New Mexico on Jan. 12 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Junior Josh Wallace buried two triples and shot 7-of-11 from the field ending an all-around effort with 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Junior Bishop Coulter (13 points, 7 rebounds), sophomore Jared Evans (11 points) and freshman Terrell Wilson (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Mustangs, who led from tip to buzzer. Western New Mexico was paced by senior forward Jon-Reese Woodson, who scored 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, while Willie McCray added 13 points.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Texas A&M-Commerce blitzed Midwestern State with 66-percent shooting in the first half to build a 29-point lead before winning 89-63 Saturday night at the A&M-C Fieldhouse. Trey Conrod paced the Lions with 20 points, six rebounds and five assists while Willie Rooks and Deonta Terrell scored 16 points each. Senior JaJuan Starks led the Mustangs with 19 points, while freshman Tayvion Johnson had 12 points and five rebounds off of the bench.
 
HAGGERTY CLAIMS 150TH WIN: Midwestern State boasts a 152-85 mark (.641) 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 (2-11) remains two games out of eighth place in the Lone Star Conference standings trailing Cameron (4-9) with six games to play… The top eight teams qualify for the 2019 Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament set for March 7-10 at Comerica Center in Frisco… Midwestern State has held a lead in 22 of 23 games this season... During current seven-game skid, MSU Texas has lost leads of 12, 14, 17, 3, 14 and 2 points... The Mustangs closed a stretch of seven road games over their last nine with games at Western New Mexico and UT Permian Basin this week... MSU Texas has lost each of the seven games during the stretch... The Mustangs have lost eight consecutive road games since beating Colorado State-Pueblo (92-66) in the road opener on Nov. 16... During the current seven-game skid, MSU Texas is holding opponents to a .416 overall field goal percentage and .310 percentage from the arc... The Mustangs turnover margin during the skid is -5.9 with a differential of -9.0 points off of turnovers per game... Opponents are shooting an average of 7.5 more free throw per game including an average of 6.6 more makes per game...The Mustangs rank fourth in the LSC and 59th in NCAA Division II with 12.23 offensive rebounds per game converting those into 11.0 second-chance points per game… The Mustangs surrendered a go-ahead 3-pointer with less than 10 seconds to play in an 81-80 loss to Eastern New Mexico Saturday at Ligon Coliseum. MSU also fell to UA-Fort Smith 64-63 on a 3-pointer with 8 seconds to play on Nov. 10th and 71-70 at Cameron on a triple with 1.8 seconds left… The Mustangs are 1-8 in road games this season and have lost the last eight… MSU Texas beat Colorado State-Pueblo 92-66 for its only road win of the season on Nov. 16… Midwestern States rides a seven-game losing streak into Saturday's game at Texas A&M-Commerce also dropping six consecutive games from Nov. 21-Dec. 17… It's just the second time in program history the Mustangs suffered through two skids of at least six games in the same season as the 1988-89 squad lost their first eight games then lost seven consecutive times from Jan. 4-21, 1989… MSU last suffered a seven-game skid during the 1988-89 season losing seven straight from Jan. 4-21, 1989… An eight-game losing streak would match the longest in program history set from Nov. 5-Dec. 3, 1988; Nov. 23-Dec. 12, 1981; Nov. 28-Dec. 19, 1947; and Dec. 12, 1946-Jan. 21, 1947… MSU Texas' 6-17 start matches the worst mark through 23 games in program history previously set in 1988-89 and 1947-48. No MSU squad has started the season with a 6-18 mark… 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… MSU Texas is 5-4 in games they lead at the half and 1-13 when the game is tied (0-1) or if trailing (1-12) 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 // Senior // Guard // Fort Wayne, Ind.): Leads Mustangs and ranks fifth overall in the Lone Star Conference in scoring at 15.7 points per game… rates third in the LSC scoring 16.8 points per game during league play… shoots 47.2 percent from the field… connected on 38-of-102 3-pointers (37.3 percent)… played in each of MSU Texas' 23 games including starts in the last 17… team's top scorer in 13 games including in 11 of his 17 starts… scored in double figures 17 times this season logging at least 20 in six games… grabbed at least five rebounds in 15 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 17.3 points per game as a starter boasting high scoring games of 27 points at Tarleton State (2/7),  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…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 27 vs. Tarleton State (2/7)
Assists: 4, three times, last vs. Tarleton State (2/7)
Rebounds: 12 vs. Oklahoma Christian (12/19)
 
#1 ELIJAH LEE (5-11 // 165 // Junior // Guard // Missouri City, Texas): Played in each of MSU Texas' 23 games making 22 starts at point guard… averaging 4.3 points in 26.3 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 10 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 22 games while making seven starts… averaging 5.6 points per game knocking down 28 3-pointers… made at least two triples in nine games… ranks 28th 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: 3, twice, last Texas A&M-Commerce (2/9)
 
#3 DARIUS THOMPSON (6-3 // 190 // Senior // Guard // Memphis, Tenn.):  Saw action in the Mustangs' first two games of the season… missed the last 21 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 the last five games 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 20 games making six starts at guard… averaging 7.3 points on 52-of-127 shooting (40.9 percent) in 19.5 minutes per game… tallied 10-or-more points in seven games… averaged 8.7 points during his five starts… connected on 5-of-11 shots with two 3-pointers finishing with season high 14 points and five assists against Tarleton State (1/5)… matched campaign best effort with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting with a triple against Eastern New Mexico (2/2)… scored 14 points for the second time against Tarleton State knocking down a season-best three triples at Wisdom Gym while dishing out five assists (2/7)… 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)... connected on a 3-pointer during a four-game stretch from Jan. 26-Feb. 7 going 6-for-9 from beyond the arc (66.7 pecent)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 14, three times, last vs. Tarleton State (2/7)
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 23 games making lone start of the season at West Texas A&M (12/1)… averaging 6.4 points and 3.5 rebounds in 20.3 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' 23 games at forward… scores 9.2 points in 22.7 minutes per game… ranks second in the Lone Star Conference pulling down 8.2 boards per game… scored in double figures in 13 games this season with four point/rebound double-doubles…  grabbed at least seven rebounds 10 times with 10-or-more on six occasions… 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)… recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds against Eastern New Mexico (2/2)… grabbed 15 rebounds against Southern Nazarene (11/23)… averaging 12.2 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 69.7 percent (23-for-33) from the field and 5-of-9 (55.6 percent) from the arc during his last five games…
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 10 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: 2 vs. West Texas A&M (1/31)
Rebounds: 1, twice, last at Angelo State (11/26)
 
#25 TAYVION JOHNSON (6-6 // 196 // Freshman // Forward // Houston, Texas): Played in 10 games as a reserve forward… averaging 3.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 8.2 minutes per game… erupted for 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting with two triples to go along with five rebounds against Eastern New Mexico (2/2)… scored 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting while snaring five rebounds in a season-high 24 minutes at Texas A&M-Commerce (2/9)… booked six points on 3-of-3 shooting in 14 minutes at Tarleton State (2/7)… scored first points one way to finishing with four points and three rebounds against West Texas A&M (1/31)… blocked two shots against Western New Mexico (1/12)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 14 vs. Eastern New Mexico (2/2)
Assists: None
Rebounds: 5, twice, last at Texas A&M-Commerce (2/9)
 
#33 JARED EVANS (6-2 // 200 // Sophomore // Guard // Houston, Texas): Competed in eight games at guard with two starts since joining the team at the beginning of the spring semester… averaging 4.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 15.3 minutes per game... scored 10 points and dished out eight assists while committing a single turnover in 19 minutes against Eastern New Mexico (2/2)… connected on first three shots – two were three-point plays – to score 11 points in MSU Texas debut against Western New Mexico (1/12)… scored five points and grabbed four rebounds before fouling out in a season-high 27 minutes in first start at Tarleton State (2/7)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 11 vs. Western New Mexico (1/12)
Assists: 8 vs. Eastern New Mexico (2/2)
Rebounds: 4, vs. Tarleton State (2/7)
 
#50 BISHOP COULTER (6-7 // 230 // Junior // Forward // Atoka, Okla.):  Played in 19 games making 17 starts at forward… averaging 10.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in 25.9 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 11 times including a campaign-best 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting with seven rebounds against Colorado State-Pueblo (11/16)… notched first double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds against West Texas A&M (1/31)… 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 five games...
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 21 vs. Colorado State-Pueblo (11/16)
Assists: 3 vs. UT Permian Basin (1/10)
Rebounds: 11 vs. West Texas A&M (1/31)
 
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 plays its final road game of the regular season Saturday at UT Permian Basin. Tipoff at the Falcon Dome is set for 4 p.m.