SAN JUAN, P.R. – Midwestern State heads to Puerto Rico to play two non-conference games as part of the 2025 Puerto Rico Clasico. The Mustangs will take on NCAA Independent, P.R – Rio Piedras on Tuesday, Dec. 18 at 8 a.m. (CST) / 10 a.m. (AST) at Roger Mendoza Coliseum. The next day, Midwestern State will battle Sacred Heart (P.R.), on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 2:30 p.m. (CST) / 6:30 p.m. (AST) at Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum.
Midwestern State (2-5) head to Puerto Rico for a two-game excursion following a road loss to Oklahoma Christian, 75-62, at Payne Athletic Center is coming off an 83-75 loss to Oklahoma Christian at Payne Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon. MSU trailed by 13 points after the first stanza and were never able to recover against the Eagles.
Kerbie Cash led the Mustangs with 21 points, shooting 7-17 from the field and 6-8 from the foul line.
Veonce Powell added 13 points (5-11 FG), while
Macie Upshaw pulled down a season best 12 rebounds. MSU had 16 more shots than the Eagles, but shot just 30.6% from the floor, and were out-rebounded, 36-28, in the loss.
The Eagles finished the game with a season high 54.3 field goal percentage, while scoring their most points against a DII opponent this season. Taylor Jackson finished with 22 points on a highly efficient 8-11 from the field, along with a team high nine rebounds. Allyah Leusogi-Ape finished with 16 points and seven rebounds from the bench, while Kenzie Willis (15 pts) and Sofia Lopez (10 pts) were key factors in the Eagles win.
The Mustangs are scoring 57.6 points per game, but are allowing 65.0 ppg for a -7.0 scoring margin. From the field, Midwestern State are shooting 30.2% from the floor, 22.7% from behind the arc, and 69.5% at the foul line.
As a team Midwestern collect 36.0 rebounds per game, but give up 40.9 rebounds per game. Defensively, the Mustangs are top-five in the Lone Star Conference for both steals (11.9 steals per game) and blocks (4.0 blocks per game).
Kerbie Cash stands out as the Midwestern State leading scorer, pouring in 14.5 ppg, while adding 6.2 ppg. Cash has surpassed 20 points in half of the games they have played in, with a season best 23 points in a win over Angelo State.
Ta'Leeyah Glynn contributes at the basket with 10.0 ppg, leading the team with a 38.9 shooting percentage from three.
Macie Upshaw is the team's defensive leader, with 7.0 rebounds per game, along with a team high 16 steals and 10 blocks.
2025 Puerto Rico Clasico
The Mustangs will be one of seven Division II teams, and four women's teams traveling to Puerto Rico to compete in the holiday tournament. MSU will take on a pair of Puerto Rico based universities, battling P.R Rio Piedras, followed by Sacred Heard (P.R).
P.R. – Rio Piedras (Universidad de Puerto Rico Rio Piedras) are one of three NCAA Independent's based in Puerto Rico. The Jerezanas have played three games against NCAA opponents prior to facing the Mustangs, including playing LSC foe UT Dallas, falling 91-37. In that game, Nahiem Suarez led the team scoring 19 of the team's 37 points, finishing 7-16 from the field.
The Comets forced the Jerezanas into 29 turnovers, scoring 37 points from said turnovers. UTD also dominated the glass, pulling down a 42 rebounds compared to P.R. – Rio Piedras 24 rebounds.
Sacred Heart (P.R.) (Universidad de Sagrado Corazon) are members of the Interuniversity Athletic League (LAI). The LAI has 17 member universities, including the three NCAA independents based in Puerto Rico (P.R. – Rio Piedras, P.R. – Bayamon, and P.R. – Mayaguez). The Delfines game against the Mustangs will be the lone game for Sacred Heart (P.R.) in the 2025 Puerto Rico Clasico.
UP NEXT
Midwestern State begins 2026 in San Antonio, Texas restarting conference play against St. Mary's on Jan. 2, followed by a short trip to Austin, Texas to take on St. Edward's on Jan. 4.
