WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- It wasn't exactly the ending Midwestern State envisioned heading into the 2022-23 season.

But what an ending it was Thursday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

Seniors Jermane Carter and Derrick Ogechi exploded for career highs to lead the Mustangs to a 95-61 rout of Cameron in the finale.

Carter needed 29 points to complete his chase for 1,000 career points and he electrified the crowd scoring nine of his 17 first-half points before the first media timeout.

Then he finished with a flourish with a perfect second half hitting both of his shots from the field while going 10-for-10 from the charity stripe to finish with 31 points for the game and 1,002 points for his career.

"I am just glad it ended that way. It ended great for everyone. I don't even know what to say. I am speechless," Carter said. "I don't know what it was. I didn't even know I hit every free throw (until the end of the game). I must have wanted it really bad. I knew it would come down to those, because those are things that haunt me -- those free throws. I have been working really hard on them."

Carter didn't get quite as many looks in the second, but that was only because Ogechi was busy knocking seven 3-pointers on his way to career night with 25 points, five assists, and four rebounds.

And, when two Aggies were whistled with technical fouls, he was ready to step up.

"I had finally reached the top of the free throw ladder, so I was ready to go take some shots," Ogechi said. "But coach called me over and reminded how close Jermane was to 1,000 points."

Not that Justin Leslie wasn't any less thrilled about his performance.

"D.O., he just needed a good game and it was so fun to watch him with that swagger," MSU's head coach said. "That's who he is. He's not a tentative type of player."

With the crowd into Carter's pursuit for 1,000 points and Ogechi lighting up the scoreboard, another chase went largely unnoticed until deep into the game.

Junior guard Pierre Sanders was sneaking up on a triple-double and the only thing stopping him was time.

The Hutto High native connected on a 3-pointer and a layup later in the game to move to 10 points while grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds, but would land one assist short of the feat.

"It was a lot of fun. Going into the night knowing that it was our last game of the season with a group of seniors who we love so much," Leslie said. "My heart goes out to them for all that they had to deal with this year. Our expectations were so much higher, but they never wavered. They stayed loyal to each other, to the program, to Midwestern, to me. Everybody just wanted to honor them and just go out there with everything that we had. I was so proud of the effort that was given in such a way that it made the night so special for them."

Fellow senior Luke Hamilton added to the festivities by hitting five 3-pointers to finish with 15 points. The Austin native closed his career fifth on MSU's all-time list with 144 made 3-pointers.

Meanwhile, John Weger chipped in four points and dished out four assists.

"John just does the other stuff. I was so proud of him to end the way he did," Leslie said. "This team loves representing Midwestern State and the Wichita Falls community. The just stayed together through it all. We had a million opportunities to fall apart and we just didn't do it."

Carter summed up the brotherhood and family environment he shared at Midwestern State.

"I'll remember the people and the connections," he said. "I hope everyone on this team and all who support remains in my life."

It wasn't the ending the Mustangs wanted, yet a group of young men made their alma mater proud.
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