MSU Athletics

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan -- Midwestern State's Pierre Sanders erupted for 28 points to lead the Mustangs to the BLIA Cup title with an 87-84 win over National Chengchi University of Taiwan Monday at Koahsiung Arena.

The senior guard earned BLIA Cup MVP honors by thwarting a valiant comeback effort by the Griffins. The Hutto native hit 7-of-9 shots in the second half including the go-ahead 3-pointer from the left wing with 43 seconds remaining.

Midwestern State built a 51-36 halftime lead, outscoring National Chengchi 32-14 in the second period by forcing the Griffins into 14 first-half turnovers.

But NCCU played a strong second half led by guard Song Xinman, who hit five straight shots at one point in the third quarter and finished with a game-high 32 points while dishing out six assists.

Xinman proved to be a linchpin of a three-headed monster for the Griffins. Foreign big man Mobaye, a 6-8 forward, contributed a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds, while sharpshooting guard Wu Zhikai drilled five 3-pointers to also score 21.

But Midwestern State had the answer after National Chengchi pulled a ahead 80-77 with 1 1/2 minutes to play.

Sanders found a wide open Mason Gibson on the left wing for a game-tying 3-pointer on the next possession, then followed his own go-ahead triple.

Sanders and fellow senior guard Bakari LaStrap closed out the win by converting free throws in the closing seconds.

Sanders connected on 12-of-20 shots with two 3-pointers on hsi way to 28 points, while LaStrap scored 16 points and went a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe while also pulling down six rebounds.

Gibson scored eight of his 14 points in the first period including two of his three triples.

Junior transfer Will Shepherd added 11 points with four rebounds and three steals.

MSU coach Justin Leslie coached a team to a BLIA Cup championship for the second time in his career as also led Azusa Pacific to the same title in 2018. That season, the Cougars rode the momentum to a 20-win season and to the semifinal round of the Pacific West Conference Tournament.
 

Box Score

Midwestern State 87, National Chengchi 84
MIDWESTERN STATE (FG-A FT-A TP): John Gaines 1-2 0-0 2; Will Shepherd 5-15 0-0 11; Antwan Taylor 2-4 0-0 4; Braedon Bigott 0-0 0-0 0; Mason Gibson 5-14 1-2 14; Amaechi Chukwu 1-6 1-2 3; Bakari LaStrap 4-15 8-8 16; Duncan Alevok 0-1 0-0 0; Austin Lewis 3-8 0-0 9; Pierre Sanders 12-20 2-2 28; Totals 33-85 12-14 87.

NATIONAL CHENGCHI (FG-A FT-A TP): Mobaye 5-11 11-14 21; Liao Benqian 0-2 0-0 0; Xu Deqi 0-0 0-0 0; Li Unjie 0-0 0-0 0; Song Xinman 13-22 5-8 32; Lin Zihao 1-1 0-0 3; Tu Yihan 1-3 0-0 2; Wu Zhikai 8-15 0-0 21; Popoca 1-5 1-4 3; Durami 1-4 0-0 2; Totals 30-63 17-26 84.

3-pointers (3PM-A): Midwestern State 9-28 (Lewis 3-5; Gibson 3-9; Sanders 2-3; Shepherd 1-7; LaStrap 0-2; Taylor 0-1; Chukwu 0-1). National Chengchi 7-18 (Zhikai 5-9; Zihao 1-1; Xinman 1-4; Mobaye 0-2; Benqian 0-1; Yihan 0-1).

Rebounds: Midwestern State 36 (Chukwu 11; LaStrap 6; Lewis 5; Shepherd 4; Gibson 3; Sanders 3; Taylor 2; Bigott 1; Alevok 1). National Chengchi 38 (Mobaye 14; Popoca 6; Zhikai 4; Durami 4; Xinman 3; Yihan 3; Benqian 2; Zihao 2).

Assists: MIdwestern State 12 (Sanders 5; Gibson 3; Gaines 2; Chukwu 1; LaStrap 1). National Chengchi 13 (Xinman 6; Mobaye 5; Popaca 1; Durami 1).

Steals: Midwestern State 15 (Chukwu 4; Shepherd 3; LaStrap 3; Gaines 2; Taylor 1; Gibson 1; Sanders 1). National Chengchi 10 (Xinman 4; Popaca 2; Mobaye 1; Deqi 1; Zihao 1; Durami 1).

Blocked Shots: Midwestern State 1 (Alevok 1). National Chengchi 7 (Mobaye 5; Benqian 1; Xinman 1).

Fouls: Midwestern State 19 (Chukwu 5; Taylor 3; Shepherd 2; Gibson 2; LaStrap 2; Lewis 2; Gaines 1; Alevok 1; Sanders 1). National Chengchi 14 (Mobaye 5; Xinman 4; Popaca 4; Benqian 1).

Records: Midwestern State (5-0); National Chengchi (4-1).