DALLAS – Following the game plan was essential for Midwestern State Saturday afternoon at the Burg Center.
The Mustangs followed it and had a lot of success to outscore Dallas Baptist – in the second half.
However, the Patriots took advantage of a first-half lapse of concentration to build a 21-point lead before holding on to a 79-69 win.
"It was a complete abandonment of the game plan and things we worked on all week," MSU coach
Justin Leslie said. "Offensively, the ball was sticking and not moving at all. We were trying to attack the middle on them every time. We were asking for sacrificial drives and we were driving for ourselves and not for a teammate. As a result, we were making passes that have been uncharacteristic for us."
Dallas Baptist shot 57.7 percent from the floor and went 5-of-10 from 3-point range while hitting of its nine free throws resulting in a high scoring efficiency to run out to a 44-26 halftime edge.
Meanwhile, Midwestern State struggled creating opportunities offense opportunities while turning the ball over 10 times.
"They go to the ball and have active hands, so as a result we had 10 first-half turnovers," Leslie said. "We weren't prepared to go out there and do the necessary things in a scouting report that are going to translate to success on the floor. It was very frustrating in the first half.
Junior guard
Terrell Wilson kept the Mustangs afloat by scoring 12 of his team-high 21 points in the first half, but had very little help. Senior forward
Jermane Carter was limited to six first-half minutes due to foul trouble.
Then Midwestern State found the way back in the game largely due to unselfish play with
Pierre Sanders and
John Weger driving into the paint to create scoring opportunities for their teammates.
"I'll give those two a lot of credit particularly in the second half. They were the ones who were locked into the game plan of attacking the middle to find their teammates," Leslie said. "The dunks and the scores in the paint were because they sacrificed."
Carter spurred the Mustangs' comeback with three dunks in the second half as he scored 14 of his 17 points after the break. He also pulled in five rebounds.
"He is going come out of those situations and know he has something to prove," Leslie said. "It's always good to know we can count on him, but he needs to continue with his development and maturity to not put the team in a bad spot and keep him on the floor."
Carter's first dunk culminated a 9-0 run early in the second half to pull the Mustangs to within 46-35 with 16:14 to play.
Midwestern State continued to battle closing the margin to seven points on three occasions in the final 10 minutes of the game.
"Our offense didn't put our defense in a bad spot in that second half. We shot with much better floor balance," Leslie said. "We were getting into the paint which allowed us better positions to get back on defense and establish ourselves. That's who we have been when we have been good."
Freshman forward
Amaechi Chukwu scored in double figures for the third consecutive game finishing with 11 points and six rebounds.
Cameron Kahn led a trio of DBU players in double digits finishing with 22 points on 6-of-10 shooting while 9-for-10 from the free throw line, while senior Jalen White had 15 points and Austin Garner added 12.
Midwestern State fell to 6-12 on the season, while the Patriots won their fifth straight to move to 11-6. The game did not count in the Lone Star Conference standings.
The Mustangs battle West Texas A&M Thursday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
