AUSTIN, Texas-- Midwestern State overcame an early 12-point deficit to defeat St. Mary's on Wednesday night, 83-76, and the Mustangs close out the road trip on Friday with their first visit to St. Edward's since November of 2009. Tip-off at the Recreation and Convocation Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Will Shepherd had his fifth double-figure scoring effort over his last six games in the win at St.Mary's. The junior from Dallas connected on 7-of-13 shots from the field including a pair of 3-pointers to finish with a game-high 18 points and eight rebounds. Midwestern State improved to 8-1 and is 2-1 in conference play. The Mustangs are 2-0 on the road to start the season.

Pierre Sanders logged his seventh double-figure scoring game of the season with 16 points. The senior from Hutto, Texas, had eight assists and four rebounds against the Rattlers.

Midwestern State leads the all-time series with St. Edward's, 18-11, but the two schools have split the last eight meetings. St. Edward's hit 8-of-17 3-point shots in the first half and took a 42-39 halftime lead en route to a 79-75 victory at D.L. Ligon Coliseum last season.

In its last trip to St. Edward's, Craig Green poured in 18 of his game-high 21 points in the second half to lift Midwestern State to a 76-61 win over the Hilltoppers in the finale of the 2009 St. Edward's Shootout. MSU is 7-5 all-time when visiting St. Edward's.

The Mustangs are the second-highest scoring team in the Lone Star Conference with 90.8 points per game and fourth in the league with a scoring margin of 12.0.

Midwestern State is shooting 47.4 percent from the field overall and 32.9 percent from 3-point range. At the free-throw line, the Mustangs are hitting 75.4 percent of their shots.

Austin Lewis and Shepherd are among the top-three in the LSC in made 3-pointers this season. Lewis is second with 21, and Shepherd is third with 19. Both players are shooting better than 42 percent from beyond the arc.

Gibson is the leading scorer for MSU with 14.2 points per game. Sanders is scoring 13.9 points per game, and Shepherd is adding 12.4 points per game. LaStrap pitches in 11.4, and Lewis contributes 10.6 points per game.

The Mustangs are leading the conference and are fifth in the nation with 22.56 fast break points per game this season. MSU is also leading the conference in blocks per game (5.3), defensive rebounds per game (29.33). The bench is scoring 34.11 points per game, which is second in the LSC.

Alevok is the leading shot blocker in the league with 26 total blocks, which is third-most among Division II shot blockers. Alevok is averaging a conference-leading 2.89 blocks per game, which is sixth-best in the nation.

Midwestern State is grabbing the second-most rebounds in the league with 41.11 boards per game. Shepherd and Alevok both have 44 total rebounds and are averaging 4.9 rebounds per game.

Reggie Hill, who has appeared in five games, is averaging 6.4 rebounds per game. Amaechi Chukwu is pulling down 5.2 rebounds per game in five appearances.

Sanders is leading the conference with 55 total assists (fourth in the nation) and 6.1 assists per game (11th in the nation). Sanders is fifth in the nation and the LSC leader in assist/turnover ratio of 4.58.

As a team, the Mustangs are third in the conference with 16.8 assists per game.

Three guards are among the top-13 LSC players in steals. Sanders leads the team and is third in the league with 17 steals. LaStrap is fifth in the conference with 16 steals, and Gibson is 13th with 12 steals.

The Mustangs are third in the conference and 23rd in the nation with 10.1 steals per game. MSU is forcing 17.78 turnovers per game, which is third in the LSC and 23rd in the nation.

Opponents are shooting 41 percent against MSU, which is boasting the third-best field-goal percentage defense in the LSC.

St. Edward's has won four of its last five games and is 7-3 with a 1-1 record in the LSC. The Hilltoppers are coming off an 81-58 victory over Southwestern. Jamison Kay scored 14 of his 15 points in the second half on 5-for-6 shooting from the field, hitting 4-for-4 from the free-throw line, and grabbing seven of his eight rebounds over the final 20 minutes, as the Hilltoppers outscored the Pirates in the second half, 49-30.

Sean Elkington is third in the conference and leading St. Edward's with 20.6 points per game. The 6-8 sophomore also leads the team and is third in the league with 8.6 rebounds per game. Elkington had 20 points and 10 rebounds against the Mustangs last season. He hit 8-of-12 shots from the field and was 3 of 4 from 3-point range.

Gavino Ramos (14.3), Jeff Gary (13.6) and Blake Nielson (12.7) are also averaging double-figures in scoring for the Hilltoppers, who are the sixth-highest scoring team in the LSC with 80.2 points per game.

St. Edward's reserves are scoring just 15.6 points per game, which is 16th in the LSC.

The Hilltoppers are the best free-throw shooting team in the league and third in the nation at 82.2 percent, and they are second in the LSC with 18.9 made free throws per game, which is 19th among Division II schools.

Gary is 18 of 41 from beyond the arc (43.9 percent) and the Hilltoppers are shooting 35 percent from long range as a team. Elkington is 12 of 24 from 3-point distance.

The Hilltoppers are 11th in the league in field goal percentage defense as opponents are shooting 45.8 percent from the field, and they are conceding 75.4 points per game, which is eighth in the league.

Neilson is fourth in the LSC with 4.5 assists per game, and the Hilltoppers are turning the ball just 11.5 times per game.

St. Edward's is 10th in the conference with 36.3 rebounds per game, including 12.4 offensive rebounds per game, which is fourth in the league.

Andre Cook is in his 15th season as the head coach at St. Edward's and boast a record of 248-168 (.596). The Hilltoppers were 21-11 last season, which was their fourth season of 20-plus wins under Cook's direction.

Justin Leslie is in his fifth season at Midwestern State and his 17th campaign as a collegiate head coach. Leslie has an all-time record of 321-187, including 12 seasons at Azusa Pacific. Leslie is 55-61 at Midwestern State.

Midwestern State returns to D.L. Ligon Coliseum on Dec. 18 and renews the Red River Rivalry with Cameron at 7:30 p.m.