Midwestern State at Texas A&M-Commerce
MSU Texas (6-16, 2-10), A&M-C (17-5, 9-3)
Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019 | 4 p.m.
A&M-Commerce Fieldhouse | Commerce, Texas
Series Info: MSU Texas leads series 55-36 | A&M-C won the first meeting this season – 74-68 – in Wichita Falls (1/3/19) | A&M-Commerce has won the last three meetings and five of the last six | MSU Texas last beat A&M-C 78-57 on 1/26/17 in Wichita Falls | A&M-C has won the last two meetings in Commerce | MSU Texas last won at A&M-Commerce Fieldhouse 84-69 on 1/26/17 | The Mustangs are 19-22 all-time against the Lions in Commerce
Radio: ESPN 95.5 FM | Video: LionAthletics.com | Audio: Mustangs Digital Network | Live Stats: LionAthletics.com
 
THE OPPONENT: Texas A&M-Commerce improved to 9-1 at home with an 87-78 win over Cameron Thursday night at the A&M-C Fieldhouse… The Lions moved to 17-5 and stand second in the Lone Star Conference with a mark of 9-3 – two games behind West Texas A&M (11-1)… A&M-C's only loss at home came in overtime to Western New Mexico (74-73) on Jan. 24… LSC Preseason Player of the Year Reggie Reid scores 15.9 points (third in LSC) with 4.7 rebounds and a league leading 4.7 assists per game… Reid also ranks third in the LSC with 1.95 steals per game… Fellow senior Willie Rooks (14.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg) has scored at least 10 points in each of his last 10 games… Senior forward Trey Conrod gives the Lions a third double-digit scoring option at 11.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game… Texas A&M-Commerce tops the Lone Star Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.28 / 49th in D2) and fewest turnovers (267 / 99th in D2) and is second in the league in 3-point field goal attempts (570 / 54th in D2), assists per game (15.5 /58th in D2), blocked shots per game (3.8 / 56th in D2), personal fouls per game (17.5 / 127th in D2), 3-point field goals per game (9.5 / 60th in D2) and turnovers per game (12.1 / 74th in D2)… Jaret Von Rosenberg boasts a 39-14 record (.734) in his second season at helm at Texas A&M-Commerce…
 
MSU VS. TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE (PART 1): Willie Rooks poured in a game-high 20 points to lead Texas A&M-Commerce to a 78-64 win over Midwestern State on Jan. 3 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Mustangs, who held a 31-30 halftime edge, were paced by Josh Wallace's 20-point effort. Wallace buried five 3-pointers led a trio of MSU Texas' performers in double figures including Bishop Coulter (11 points, 7 rebounds) and Gilbert Thomas (10 points, 5 rebounds). Junior guard Elijah Lee pitched in a solid all-around effort with seven points, eight rebounds and seven assists while JaJuan Starks posted a near double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
 
LAST TIME OUT: Corinthian Ramsey matched a season high with 27 points to lead Tarleton State to an 82-73 win over Midwestern State Thursday night at Wisdom Gym. Ramsey's effort nullified a hot-shooting second half by the Mustangs and a matching season high by senior guard JaJuan Starks, who also booked 27 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists. MSU Texas shot 53 percent from the field in the second half also connecting on 8-of-16 shots from beyond the arc, but were only able to make one point of the Texans' 10-point halftime advantage. Freshman Terrell Wilson also equaled a campaign best with 14 points burying three triples.
 
HAGGERTY CLAIMS 150TH WIN: Midwestern State boasts a 152-84 mark (.644) 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 (2-10) remains two games out of eighth place in the Lone Star Conference standings trailing Cameron (4-8) 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 all 22 games this season... During current six-game skid, MSU Texas has lost leads of 12, 14, 17, 3, 14 and 2 points... Only one opponent – Tarleton State (52.8 percent) during current six-game losing streak has shot better than 40.8 percent from the field, while four of the six have connected on less than 30 percent from the arc... The Mustangs limited their last five opponents to 40.5 percent shooting from the field (156-of-385) and 29.7 percent from the arc (38-of-128) with single game percentages of .403 against Cameron, .323 against Texas A&M-Kingsville, .400 versus Angelo State, .408 versus West Texas A&M, .389 versus Eastern New Mexico and .528 versus Tarleton State... MSU Texas ranks fourth in the LSC and 59th nationally in field goal percentage defense (42.3)… The Mustangs are averaging 18.2 turnovers per game during current six-game slide... The Mustangs rank fourth in the LSC and 59th in NCAA Division II with 12.23 offensive rebounds per game converting those into 11.2 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 1-7 in road games this season and have lost the last seven… MSU Texas beat Colorado State-Pueblo 92-66 for its only road win of the season on Nov. 16… Midwestern States rides second six-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 experience six-game losing streaks twice this season, once in 2016-17 and another occasion during the 1989-90 but haven't dropped seven straight games since the 1988-89 from Jan. 4-21, 1989… MSU Texas' 6-16 start matches the worst mark through 22 games in program history previously set in 1988-89, 1948-49 and 1947-48… The '88-89 and '47-48 squads dropped to 6-17… 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 1-12 when the game is tied (0-1) or if trailing (1-11) 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 15.5 points per game… rates third in the LSC scoring 16.7 points per game during league play… shoots 47.0 percent from the field… connected on 37-of-97 3-pointers (38.1 percent)… played in each of MSU Texas' 22 games including starts in the last 16… team's top scorer in 12 games including in 10 of his 16 starts… scored in double figures 16 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' 22 games making 21 starts at point guard… averaging 4.5 points in 26.2 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 21 games while making seven starts… averaging 5.5 points per game knocking down 27 3-pointers… made at least two triples in nine games… ranks 26th 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 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 20 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 four 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 19 games making five starts at guard… averaging 7.6 points on 52-of-122 shooting (42.6 percent) in 19.2 minutes per game… tallied 10-or-more points in seven games… averaged 10.0 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 in each of his last four games 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 22 games making lone start of the season at West Texas A&M (12/1)… averaging 6.3 points and 3.7 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' 22 games at forward… scores 9.1 points in 22.5 minutes per game… ranks second in the Lone Star Conference pulling down 8.1 boards per game… scored in double figures in 12 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 12.8 points and 8.3 rebounds while shooting 79.2 percent (19-for-24) from the field and 5-of-8 (62.5 percent) from the arc during his last four 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 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 nine games as a reserve forward… averaging 2.7 points and 1.0 rebounds in 6.4 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)… 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 vs. Eastern New Mexico (2/2)
 
#33 JARED EVANS (6-2 // 200 // Sophomore // Guard // Houston, Texas): Competed in seven games at guard with one start since joining the team at the beginning of the spring semester… averaging 4.9 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 15.0 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)… 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 continues on the road with two games next week. The Mustangs battle Western New Mexico Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. (Central) in Silver City before taking on UT Permian Basin Saturday at 4 p.m. in Odessa.