Midwestern State at Tarleton State
MSU Texas (6-15, 2-9), TSU (16-6, 6-5)
Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019 | 7:30 p.m.
Wisdom Gym | Stephenville, Texas
Series Info: MSU Texas leads series 47-32 | Tarleton won the first meeting this season – 70-65 – in Wichita Falls (1/5/19) | Tarleton has won the last six meetings including last three in Stephenville | MSU Texas last beat Tarleton State 66-63 on 1/13/16 in Wichita Falls | MSU Texas last won in Stephenville 78-76 on 3/16/14 | The Mustangs are 16-14 all-time against the Texans in Stephenville
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Video: TarletonSports.com | Audio: Mustangs Digital Network | Live Stats: TarletonSports.com
 
THE OPPONENT: Tarleton State has won three of their last four with a split last week on the road falling to Angelo State (64-62) before beating Texas A&M-Kingsville (65-57)… The Texans are 9-2 at home this season winning their last five at Wisdom Gym… TSU is tied for fourth in the Lone Star Conference standings with a 6-5 record… Tarleton remains one of the top defensive teams in the LSC ranking second in the league in field goal percentage defense (39.6 / 11th in NCAA D2) and scoring defense (67.3 ppg / 33rd in NCAA D2) while committing the fewest personal fouls per game (13.6 / 7th in NCAA D2)… The sharpshooting Texans rank second in the league field goal percentage (48.7 / 35th in NCAA D2), 3-point field goal percentage (38.3 / 57th in NCAA D2) and free throw percentage (74.2 / 63rd in NCAA D2)… Junior forward Josh Hawley ranks second in the LSC scoring 17.7 points per game and leads the league pulling down 9.9 rebounds per game… Hawley boasts a league-high nine double-doubles and tops the LSC shooting 59.7 percent from the field… Senior guard Corinthian Ramsey averages 12.3 points per game while dishing out 3.8 assists… Junior guard Randall Broddie connects at a 43.7-percent clip from the arc to average 10.3 points per game… Chris Reismann is in his first year at the helm at Tarleton State spending the past 12 years as a graduate assistant, assistant and associate head coach under his father and current athletic director Lonn Reisman…
 
MSU VS. TARLETON (PART 1): Midwestern State battled back from a 15-point deficit early in the second half to lead by four with just over 6 1/2 minutes to go, but Tarleton State managed to stave off the Mustangs for a 70-65 win Jan. 5 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Senior guard JaJuan Starks poured in a game-high 23 points to lead the Mustangs, while Josh Wallace had 15 and Terrell Wilson chipped in 14 off of the bench. Randall Broddie paced the Texans with 16 points.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Zach Parker's deep 3-pointer from the top of the key with 0.7 seconds remaining lifted Eastern New Mexico to an 81-80 win over Midwestern State Saturday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs rallied from a six-point deficit with 7:42 to playing regaining the lead on Terrell Wilson's second triple of the game with 5:31 to go, but were unable to hold off the Greyhounds. Senior guard JaJuan Starks scored a game-high 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting with a pair of 3-pointers, while Wilson and fellow frosh Tayvion Johnson scored 14 points off of the bench. Junior forward Gilbert Thomas notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while sophomore Jared Evans had 10 points and dished out eight assists with a single turnover in 19 minutes of action.
 
HAGGERTY CLAIMS 150TH WIN: Midwestern State boasts a 152-83 mark (.647) 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 (2-9) stand two games out of eighth place in the Lone Star Conference standings trailing Cameron (4-7)… The top eight teams qualify for the 2019 Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament set for March 7-10 at Comerica Center in Frisco… 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... Midwestern State has held a lead in all 21 games this season... During current five-game skid, MSU Texas has lost leads of 12, 14, 17, 3 and 14 points... No opponent during current five-game losing streak has shot better than 40.8 percent from the field, while four of the five have connected on less than 30 percent from the arc... The Mustangs limited their last five opponents to 38.5 percent shooting from the field (128-of-332) and 28.6 percent from the arc (30-of-105) with single game percentages of .403 against Cameron, .323 against Texas A&M-Kingsville, .400 versus Angelo State, .408 versus West Texas A&M and .389 versus Eastern New Mexico... MSU Texas ranks third in the LSC and 56th nationally in field goal percentage defense (42.0)… The Mustangs are averaging 17.6 turnovers per game during current five-game slide... The Mustangs rank third in the LSC and 55th in NCAA Division II with 12.35 offensive rebounds per game converting those into 11.3 second-chance points per game… 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 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 1-11 when the game is tied (0-1) or if trailing (1-10) 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 15.0 points per game… rates seventh in the LSC scoring 15.7 points per game during league play… shoots 46.6 percent from the field… connected on 35-of-90 3-pointers (38.9 percent)… played in each of MSU Texas' 21 games including starts in the last 15… team's top scorer in 11 games including in nine of his 15 starts… scored in double figures 15 times this season logging at least 20 in five games… grabbed at least five rebounds in 14 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 16.6 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…
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' 21 games making 20 starts at point guard… averaging 4.7 points in 26.1 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 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 20 games while making seven starts… averaging 5.8 points per game knocking down 27 3-pointers… made at least two triples in nine games… ranks 24th 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: 3 vs. Eastern New Mexico (2/2)
 
#3 DARIUS THOMPSON (6-3 // 190 // Senior // Guard // Memphis, Tenn.):  Saw action in the Mustangs' first two games of the season… missed the last 19 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 three 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 18 games making four starts at guard… averaging 7.2 points on 49-of-114 shooting (43 percent) in 18.6 minutes per game… tallied 10-or-more points in six games… 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)… 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, two times, last vs. Eastern New Mexico (2/2)
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 21 games making lone start of the season at West Texas A&M (12/1)… averaging 6.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in 20.4 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' 21 games at forward… scores 9.0 points in 22.0 minutes per game… ranks second in the Lone Star Conference pulling down 8.2 boards per game… scored in double figures in 11 games this season with four point/rebound double-doubles…  grabbed at least seven rebounds nine 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)…
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 nine 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 eight games as a reserve forward… averaging 2.3 points and 1.1 rebounds in 5.5 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 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 vs. Eastern New Mexico (2/2)
 
#33 JARED EVANS (6-2 // 200 // Sophomore // Guard // Houston, Texas): Competed in six games at guard since joining the team at the beginning of the spring semester… averaging 4.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 13.0 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)…
SEASON HIGHS
Points: 11 vs. Western New Mexico (1/12)
Assists: 8 vs. Eastern New Mexico (2/2)
Rebounds: 3, twice, last vs. Eastern New Mexico (2/2)
 
#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 continues a four-game road stretch Saturday afternoon at Texas A&M-Commerce. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. The Mustangs are also on the road next week traveling to Western New Mexico on Thursday and UT Permian Basin on Saturday.