Midwestern State at UT Permian Basin
MSU Texas (7-17, 3-11), UTPB (12-11, 5-8)
Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019 | 4 p.m.
Falcon Dome | Odessa, Texas
Series Info: UTPB leads series 6-4 | The Mustangs won the first meeting this season – 73-65 – in Wichita Falls (1/10/19) | MSU Texas' win earlier this snapped UTPB's run of five straight wins in the series | Midwestern State is 0-3 all-time against UT Permian Basin in Odessa
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Video: UTPBFalcons.com | Audio: Mustangs Digital Network | Live Stats: UTPBFalcons.com
 
THE OPPONENT: UT Permian Basin dropped six of its last eight games, but recovered with a 95-75 win over Cameron Thursday night in Odessa... UTPB owns a 7-4 record at the Falcon Dome this season... The Falcons stand seventh in the Lone Star Conference at 5-8 with a two-game lead in the loss column over Cameron (4-10) and three over Midwestern State (3-11)... UT Permian Basin boasts the LSC's top scoring offense at 86.5 points per game (24th in D2) and own the league's best field goal percentage at 50.2 percent (14th in D2)... The Falcons also top the LSC in steals per game (8.3 / 40th in D2) and defensive rebounds per game (28.5 / 23rd in D2)... Junior guard Jacob Ledoux ranks second in the LSC scoring 17.4 points per game scoring at least 20 points seven times this season including a 36-point outburst against Western New Mexico (1/31)... Senior guard Xavier Ledet averages 10.3 points per game shooting 60.3 percent from the field... Sophomore Adam Rivera matched a season high with 21 points Thursday against Cameron... Junior forward Miles Washington also matched a season high with 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting against Cameron... Josh Newman is in first season at the helm at UT Permian Basin after posting a 168-100 mark in nine season at Arkansas-Fort Smith...
 
MSU VS. UT PERMIAN BASIN (PART 1): JaJuan Starks (19 points, 11 rebounds) and Gilbert Thomas (13 points, 16 rebounds) delivered double-doubles to lead Midwestern State to a 73-65 win over UT Permian Basin on Jan. 10 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The win snapped UTPB's five-game winning streak in the series as the Mustangs earned their first Lone Star Conference win of the season. Junior guard Josh Wallace threatened a triple double with 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as the Mustangs overcame an 8-point deficit early in the second half. Kyree Elder scored 20 points to lead the Falcons.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Freshman guard Terrell Wilson poured in a career-high 18 points to lead a valiant effort as Midwestern State rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit for an 81-78 win at Western New Mexico. The Mustangs overcame first half injuries to JaJuan Starks and Gilbert Thomas as the duo combined to play 16 minutes. Junior guard D'monta Harris drilled four 3-pointers on his way to a season-high 16 points and six rebounds, while sophomore Jared Evans added 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting with three 3-pointers. The Mustangs shot 59.3 percent in from the field the second half (16-of-27) including 8-of-11 marksmanship from beyond the arc. Jon-Reese Woodson scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Western New Mexico.
 
HAGGERTY CLAIMS 150TH WIN: Midwestern State boasts a 153-85 mark (.643) 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: Mi
Midwestern State (3-11) is one game out of eighth place in the Lone Star Conference race with five games to play... Cameron stands eighth at 4-10... 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 23 of 24 games this season... The Mustangs finish a stretch of seven of nine games on the road Saturday at UT Permian Basin... MSU Texas snapped a seven-game skid with an 81-78 win at Western New Mexico Thursday night in Silver City... The seven-game losing streak was the longest since MSU dropped seven straight from Jan. 4-21, 1989... 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… It was also the Mustangs' first win on the road since beating Colorado State-Pueblo (92-66) in the road opener on Nov. 16 -- a span of eight games...The Mustangs rank fifth in the LSC and 67th in NCAA Division II with 12.04 offensive rebounds per game converting those into 10.8 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 2-8 in road games this season… 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 2-13 when the game is tied (0-1) or if trailing (2-12) 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 15.0 points per game… rates seventh in the LSC scoring 15.6 points per game during league play… shoots 47.0 percent from the field… connected on 38-of-103 3-pointers (36.9 percent)… played in each of MSU Texas' 24 games including starts in the last 18… team's top scorer in 13 games including in 11 of his 18 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' 24 games making 23 starts at point guard… averaging 4.2 points in 25.8 minutes per game… ranks third in the Lone Star Conference averaging 4.2 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 23 games while making seven starts… averaging 5.7 points per game knocking down 30 3-pointers… made at least two triples in 10 games… ranks 25th 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 22 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 six 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 21 games making seven starts at guard… averaging 7.8 points on 57-of-136 shooting (41.9 percent) in 20.3 minutes per game… tallied 10-or-more points in eight games… averaged 10.0 points during his five starts… upped his collegiate high to 18 points on 5-of-9 shooting with three triples in an 81-78 win over Western New Mexico (2/14)... 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: 18 at Western New Mexico (2/14)
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 24 games making lone start of the season at West Texas A&M (12/1)… averaging 6.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 20.8 minutes per game… scored 10-or-more points in six games… splashed in a season-high four 3-pointers to score 16 points in an 81-78 win at Western New Mexico (2/14)... 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' 24 games at forward… scores 9.2 points in 22.3 minutes per game… ranks third in the Lone Star Conference pulling down 8.0 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 11.7 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting 71.1 percent (27-for-38) from the field and 5-of-10 (50 percent) from the arc during his last six 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 11 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) and at Western New Mexico (2/14)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 3 vs. Western New Mexico (1/12)
Assists: 2 vs. West Texas A&M (1/31)
Rebounds: 1, three times, last at Western New Mexico (2/14)
 
#25 TAYVION JOHNSON (6-6 // 196 // Freshman // Forward // Houston, Texas): Played in 11 games with one start at forward… averaging 3.8 points and 1.9 rebounds in 9.5 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)… scored six points and grabbed a season-high seven rebounds in first collegiate start at Western New Mexico (2/14)... 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: 7 at Western New Mexico (2/14)
 
#33 JARED EVANS (6-2 // 200 // Sophomore // Guard // Houston, Texas): Competed in nine games at guard with two starts since joining the team at the beginning of the spring semester… averaging 6.2 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 16.0 minutes per game... erupted for a season-high 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting with three 3-pointers with four assists and three rebounds in an 81-78 win at Western New Mexico (2/14)... 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: 17 at Western New Mexico (2/14)
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 20 games making 17 starts at forward… averaging 10.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in 25.7 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  five consecutive games from Jan.12-31...
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 resumes the Red River Rivalry against Cameron Tuesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.