Midwestern State vs Angelo State
MSU Texas (8-18, 4-12), ASU (18-7, 11-5)
Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 | 7:30 p.m.
D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Wichita Falls, Texas
Series Info: MSU Texas leads series 47-32 | Angelo State won the first meeting this season – 72-67 – at Junell Center (1/26/19) | ASU won four of the last five and seven of last 10 dating back to the 2013-14 season | Midwestern State is 29-7 all-time against the Rams at Ligon Coliseum
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Video/Audio: Mustangs Digital Network | Live Stats: MSUMustangs.com
 
POSTSEASON SCENARIO: Midwestern State needs one more win than Cameron this week to clinch a spot in the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament set for March 7-10 at Comerica Center (formerly Dr Pepper Arena) in Frisco. The Mustangs can claim the No. 7 seed with two wins this week, a loss by Cameron and two losses by UT Permian Basin.
 
THE OPPONENT: Angelo State swept home wins over Western New Mexico (99-71) and UT Permian Basin (93-80) last week after taking two losses on the road in the previous week to West Texas A&M (89-69) and Eastern New Mexico (83-71)… Overall, the Rams have won five of their last seven… Angelo State is 4-3 on the road this season – all during Lone Star Conference play… The Rams have essentially locked in the No. 3 seed controlling the tiebreaker with Eastern New Mexico with a win over Texas A&M-Commerce… Angelo State would the No. 2 seed with wins over MSU Texas and Cameron and if Texas A&M-Commerce loses at both UT Permian Basin and Western New Mexico… The Rams are the top rebounding team in the LSC leading the league with 13.50 offensive boards per game (21st in NCAA D2) and are second in defensive rebounds per game (26.4 / 105th in NCAA D2)… Angelo State is also first in the LSC in rebound margin (+9.9 / 9th in NCAA D2)… The Rams are also second in the LSC in 3-point field goal defense (31.8 / 24th in NCAA D2)… Senior forward Antonio Singleton leads a quartet of Angelo State players averaging in double figures at 13.4 points per game… Singleton shoot 42.3 percent from 3-point range knocking down 58 triples in 25 games… Junior guard Ronald  Bell (13.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg), senior guard Daron Mims (10.6 ppg) and senior guard Kiair Crouch (10.1 ppg) are also in double figures for the Rams.. Senior forward Josh Boutte leads the LSC with 3.5 offensive rebounds per game and is seventh overall collecting 7.1 caroms per game… Senior guard James Kirksey leads the LSC and is 46th in NCAA D2 with 2.27 steals per game… Cinco Boone boasts a 78-37 record (.678) in his fourth year as head coach at Angelo State…
 
MSU VS. ANGELO STATE (PART 1): Angelo State reeled off a 25-3 run over the final 5:40 to escape with a 72-67 win over Midwestern State on Jan. 26 at Junell Center. The Mustangs led 64-47 after JaJuan Starks hit a layup with just under six minutes to play. Junior Gilbert Thomas scored each of his team-high 17 points in the first half going 4-of-5 from the field with two 3-pointers while hitting 7-of-8 free throws. Junior D'Monta Harris (13 points, 5 rebounds) and Bishop Coulter (11 points, 6 rebounds) were also in double figures. Kiair Crouch paced the Rams with 21 points.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Junior forward Gilbert Thomas' fifth double-double of the season helped Midwestern State keep postseason hopes alive as the Mustangs held off Cameron 62-59 last week at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Thomas scored 16 points, grabbed 23 rebounds and blocked six shots leading a stellar MSU Texas defensive effort as the Mustangs limited the Aggies to a 32-percent shooting night. Junior guard D'Monta Harris continued his hot shooting hitting four 3-pointers to score 15 points off of the bench.
 
HAGGERTY CLAIMS 150TH WIN: Midwestern State boasts a 154-86 mark (.642) 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 needs to win one more game than Cameron during the final week of the season to qualify for the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament... The Mustangs last missed the postseason in 2007-08... The Mustangs have claimed eight wins this season with two games to play. Midwestern State has won at least 10 games in each season dating back to the 1957-58 campaign... The Mustangs have held a lead in 25 of 26 games this season... The Mustangs snapped a seven-game slide with an 81-78 win at Western New Mexico on Feb. 14 in Silver City… The Mustangs lost eight of nine game during a stretch of seven of nine on the road including seven straight losses from Jan. 15-Feb. 9… 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… The Mustangs experienced three tough losses in league play giving away a 12-point lead with three minutes to play before losing on a Tyus Momoh 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds to play against Cameron (71-70 / Jan. 15), giving up a game closing 25-3 run after leading by 17 with 5:40 to play at Angelo State (72-67 / Jan. 26) and losing to Eastern New Mexico on a 3-pointer by Zach Parker with less than two seconds to play (81-80 / Feb. 2)… The Mustangs finished with a 2-9 road record this season… The two road wins are the fewest since the 1988-89 team went 2-12 away from Ligon Coliseum… MSU Texas is 6-4 in games they lead at the half and 2-14 when the game is tied (0-1) or if trailing (2-13) 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… Terrell Wilson and Tayvion Johnson have been a part of Midwestern State's starting five in each of the last three games. It's the first time since E.J. Collins and Kinsley Pegues started against UTEP on Nov. 26, 1990 that an MSU starting has featured two freshmen... When Wilson made a start against Mid-America Christian on Dec. 17 this season, he became the first true frosh to make a start for Midwestern State since Tate Lombard in 2002-03...
 
PLAYER NOTES
 
#0 JAJUAN STARKS (6-5 // 215 // Senior // Guard // Fort Wayne, Ind.): Leads Mustangs and ranks sixth overall in the Lone Star Conference in scoring at 14.5 points per game… rates eighth in the LSC scoring 14.8 points per game during league play… shoots 45.5 percent from the field… connected on 41-of-112 3-pointers (36.6 percent)… played in each of MSU Texas' 26 games including starts in the last 20… team's top scorer in 13 games including in 11 of his 20 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 15.3 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' 26 games making 25 starts at point guard… averaging 4.0 points in 25.5 minutes per game… ranks third in the Lone Star Conference averaging 4.0 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 25 games while making eight starts… averaging 5.6 points per game knocking down 31 3-pointers… made at least two triples in 10 games… ranks 25th in the Lone Star Conference with 1.2 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, four times, last at UT Permian Basin (2/16)
Rebounds: 3, three times, last vs Cameron (2/19)
 
#3 DARIUS THOMPSON (6-3 // 190 // Senior // Guard // Memphis, Tenn.):  Saw action in the Mustangs' first two games of the season… missed the last 24 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 eight 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 23 games making nine starts at guard… averaging 7.4 points on 59-of-152 shooting (38.8 percent) in 20.8 minutes per game… tallied 10-or-more points in eight games… averaged 8.6 points during his nine starts… became first true freshman to make a start for Midwestern State since Tate Lombard in 2002-03 when he was started against Mid-America Christian (12/17)… 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)… 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)... only field goal was go-ahead layup with two seconds remaining in an 62-59 win over Cameron (2/19)… 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 percent)…
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 26 games making lone start of the season at West Texas A&M (12/1)… averaging 7.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 21.0 minutes per game… scored 10-or-more points in seven 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)… splashed in a season-high four 3-pointers to score 16 points in an 81-78 win at Western New Mexico (2/14)... drilled five triples and finished with a team-high 17 points at UT Permian Basin (2/16)… went 4-of-7 from the field – all 3-pointers – to score 15 points points against Cameron (2/19)… buried 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 score 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)… connected on at least two 3-pointers in each of his last five games going 17-of-36 from the arc (47.2 percent) during the stretch…
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' 26 games at forward… scores 9.5 points in 22.9 minutes per game… ranks second in the Lone Star Conference pulling down 8.7 boards per game… scored in double figures in 15 games with six point/rebound double-doubles…  grabbed at least seven rebounds 12 times with 10-or-more on eight occasions… earned Lone Star Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors after going for 16 points, 23 rebounds and six blocked shots in a 62-59 win over Cameron (2/19)… the 23 rebounds against Cameron were the second most in NCAA Division II this season and most for an MSU player since Khapri Alston had 27 points and 25 rebounds at Angelo State on Jan. 23, 2016… 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)… recorded a double-double two times against UT Permian Basin going for 13 points and 16 rebounds in the first meeting (1/10) and 12 points and 11 rebounds the second time (2/16)… 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 12.3 points and 10.0 rebounds while shooting 64.2 percent (34-for-53) from the field and 6-of-13 (46.2 percent) from the arc during his last eight games…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 17 at Angelo State (1/26)
Assists: 3 vs. Science & Arts (Okla.) (12/29)
Rebounds: 23 vs. Cameron (2/19)
 
#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 13 games with three starts at forward… averaging 3.9 points and 1.8 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 nine points on 4-of-5 shooting with a 3-pointers against Cameron (2/19)… 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 11 games at guard with two starts since joining the team at the beginning of the spring semester… averaging 5.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 17.5 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, twice, last vs. Cameron (2/19)
 
#50 BISHOP COULTER (6-7 // 230 // Junior // Forward // Atoka, Okla.):  Played in 22 games making 17 starts at forward… averaging 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds in 24.7 minutes per game… Ranks ninth in the Lone Star Conference with 2.4 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.
 
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COMING UP NEXT… Midwestern State faces Texas A&M-Kingsville in the regular season finale Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.