WICHITA FALLS, Texas (Men's Basketball) – Texas A&M University-Kingsville (7-4, 0-2 LSC) fell to Midwestern State University (8-4, 1-3 LSC) 73-68 in the D.L. Ligon Coliseum on Monday night.

The loss gives Midwestern State its first conference win of the season and matches Texas A&M-Kingsville's longest losing streak this year. 

Marcus Frazier led the team with 14 points and a career-high four steals. Trey Sumpter finished with 13 points, three steals and one assist. Sumpter has now scored in double-figures in ten of the clubs 11 games this season.  Caelan Neal scored in double-digits for his fourth consecutive game and nearly had a double-double with a season-high of nine rebounds. 

TEAM LEADERS

Texas A&M-Kingsville
Points: Marcus Frazier, 14
Rebounds: Caelan Neal, 9
Assists: Two players with three assists
Steals: Marcus Frazier, 4
Blocks: Three players with one block

Midwestern State
Points: Brandon Neel, 19
Rebounds: Igor Ibaka, 6
Assists: Devante Pullum, 5
Steals: Two players with two steals
Blocks: Magnus Richards, 4 

1st Half
MSU started fast by taking an early 14-7 lead, but the Hogs responded with a 12-2 run highlighted by a triple from Neal to take a 19-16 lead with 8:29 remaining in the half. With the scored tied at 21, The visitors came out of the media timeout with an 8-0 burst giving the Javs the largest lead of the stanza for both teams, 29-21. Although held scoreless for the final 2:41, TAMUK went into the break with a 35-31 lead behind Neal's ten points and four rebounds which led all players. Sumpter followed with seven points. 

The Javelinas forced the Mustangs into ten first half turnovers that translated into 11 points to cap off the half. Offensively, the Hogs shot 33% from the floor and 32% from beyond-the-arc while committing only two turnovers.

2nd Half
The Stangs started the second half on a 7-1 run, but the three-ball came to the rescue again after consecutive bombs from Bambrook and Jones to swing the momentum back in favor of the Blue and Gold. With under ten minutes remaining in the game, Midwestern State exploded to a 10-0 run and took its first lead since the first half, 64-58. The Hoggies narrowed the gap to three, but went 1-of-7 from the floor in the final three and a half minutes and fell to MSU 73-68.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Despite being out rebounded and outshot from the floor 43%-33%, the Hogs entered halftime with a 35-31 lead.
• The Javelinas thwarted the Mustangs from getting into a rhythm by forcing ten turnovers in the opening half. TAMUK only committed two turnovers and scored 11 points off of MSU miscues.
• Both teams shot 100% at the free-throw line in the first half.
• TAMUK was outscored 38-24 in the paint, and 21-8 on second chance points.
• The Hogs continue to show their extended weapons from the bench by outscoring their opponents bench 30-10.
• MSU had four players finish with 10 or more points.
• The Javs were outscored in the second half 42-33.
• Texas A&M-Kingsville shot 90% from the free-throw line, their highest percentage this season.
• The Hogs have lost 19 consecutive games to the Mustangs. Their last win came in 2008 when TAMUK defeated MSU 78-63 in Kingsville.

GAME INFORMATION
Score: Texas A&M-Kingsville 68, Midwestern State 73
Records: Texas A&M-Kingsville (7-4, 0-2 LSC), Midwestern State (8-4, 1-3 LSC)
Series: Texas A&M-Kingsville are 11-35 against Midwestern State
Location: D.L. Ligon Coliseum Wichita Falls, Texas
Time of Game: 7:30 p.m.
 

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