Heading into another week of crossover and non-conference action, three Lone Star Conference teams remain perfect, with Incarnate Word and West Texas A&M on the men’s side and Northeastern State on the women’s.
The LSC men have a 82-49 overall record so far this season, including a 41-22 mark in the South Division and 41-27 in the North. In league crossover action, the South Division holds a 17-11 record over its North opponents. In the NCAA South Central Region, the men’s teams are currently 18-10 combined versus Heartland Conference teams and 6-2 against the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).
The LSC women are 64-60 overall, with a 22-36 mark in the South and 42-24 in the North this season. In league crossover play the North has the advantage, 20-12. The women’s teams are currently 15-18 combined versus Heartland Conference squads and 4-2 against the MIAA in the NCAA South Central Region.
STAT LEADERS
In men’s games played last week, the LSC had three score more than 30 points, seven over the 20-point mark and 6 double-digit rebounders, while five recorded a double-double. Top performances included:
Points, Men: 50, Chris Hagan, MSU vs. CU
Rebounds, Men: 16, Ridge McKeither, ASU vs. STMU
Assists, Men: 10, Lionel Foster, WTAMU vs. A&M-C
Steals, Men: 5, Shaun Umeh, UIW vs. SE
On the women’s side, the league had no players over the 30-point mark, 11 with more than 20 points and 13 double-digit rebounders, while 12 posted double-doubles in action last week. Top performances included:
Points, Women: 28, Alyssa Fuxa, UCO vs ACU
Rebounds, Women: 17, Victoria Gonzalez, Kingsville at SE
Assists, Women: 7, Two players
Steals, Women: 6, Kirsti Degelia, MSU at SWOSU
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
NORTH MEN’S OFFENSIVE
Dauntae Williams, University of Central Oklahoma, SR, Guard, Missouri City, TX, Missouri City HS
Williams had a dominating two games as No. 15-ranked UCO beat Angelo State and Abilene Christian, averaging 30.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 steals and 2.0 blocked shots while shooting 55.6 percent from the field. The senior guard scored a season-high 35 points and had three steals in an 85-83 win over ASU, hitting a game-winning 17-foot jumper with 3.1 seconds remaining after tying the game at 83-all on a 3-pointer with 54 seconds left. He came back with 26 points, five rebounds, four blocks and four steals in an 81-53 rout of ACU, scoring 19 first-half points to put the Bronchos in control.
NORTH MEN’S DEFENSIVE
Brian Singleton, Texas A&M-Commerce, SR, Guard, Ama, La., Hahnville HS
Singleton forced West Texas A&M’s point guard into nine turnovers in a one-point defeat in which he grabbed five rebounds and scored 16 points. In the win over Eastern New Mexico, he helped hold the Greyhounds to a .386 field goal percentage on 22-57 shooting, while recording a game-high 17 points.
SOUTH MEN’S OFFENSIVE
Chris Hagan, Midwestern State University, SR, Guard, Houston, Texas, Westfield HS
Hagan erupted for a school-record 50 points to lift Midwestern State to a 91-82 LSC crossover win over Cameron Monday night at Aggie Gym. The Sporting News Preseason All American connected on 17 of 26 shots from the field including eight 3-pointers and was 8-of-10 from the free throw line while scoring 21 in the first half before closing with 29 in the second. The senior guard from Houston went for a game-high 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting with three treys in the Mustangs’ 67-40 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma Saturday afternoon in Weatherford. Hagan tallied 71 points in 70 minutes to average 35.5 points a game while shooting 62.5 percent from the field (25-40) and 55 percent from the arc (11-20) as the Mustangs knocked off two teams previously unbeaten on their respective home floors. He set LSC season highs in points (50), field goals made (17), field goals attempted (26) and 3-point field goals made (8). He is averaging 28.8 points per game and shooting 62 percent from the field (44-71) including a 50-percent clip from the arc (15-30) during LSC crossover play. It was the first 50-point performance in the storied Midwestern State basketball history and bettered a 48-year-old record of 46 points set by Roger Ellis on Feb. 27, 1962 then matched by NAIA All American Earl Beechum versus Monmouth in a national tournament contest on March 8, 1966.
SOUTH MEN’S DEFENSIVE
Shaun Umeh, University of the Incarnate Word, JR, Guard, Houston, Dulles HS
Umeh was instrumental in the Cardinals defensive efforts last week, which included wins over Southeastern Oklahoma and East Central to remain undefeated. Against SE, he held the three starting guards to a total of 10 points on 5-15 shooting from the field, while recording five steals, which set a personal high and tied a team individual high. He also handed out three assists and pulled down six rebounds. UIW won their ninth straight game to open the season versus ECU, with Umeh helping to limit the Tigers to a .377 field goal percentage.
NORTH WOMEN’S OFFENSIVE
Mattilyn McIntyre, Texas A&M-Commerce, SR, Guard, Texarkana, Texas/Liberty Eylau HS
McIntyre paced Texas A&M-Commerce to a split in two LSC crossover games last week, averaging 24 points, 6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. She was 14 of 26 from the field (.538) including a double-double effort (23 points, 10 boards) in the one-point victory over Eastern New Mexico and 25 points against West Texas A&M.
NORTH WOMEN’S DEFENSIVE
Jasmine Wright, Northeastern State University, JR, Guard, Dallas, TX, Lake Highlands HS
Wright was part of a stingy Northeastern State defense that limited two LSC South opponents to just .269 field goal percentage (.119 from 3-point range, and .583 from the FT line). She had nine rebounds, four steals and one block as the team gave up an average of 42 points in a pair of crossover wins at home against Abilene Christian (60-44) and Angelo State (67-40). The No. 7-ranked RiverHawks remain unbeaten at 7-0.
SOUTH WOMEN’S OFFENSIVE
Jamie Simmons, West Texas A&M University, JR, Forward, Houston, Texas, Jones HS
Since losing teammate Joni Unruh to injury, Simmons has stepped up her game and has proven that she can be the new leader on this team. Simmons averaged 22.5 points a game last week while leading the No. 22 Lady Buffs to a pair of victories over LSC North Division opponents. The junior forward tallied 22 points in an 80-45 win over Texas Woman’s last Thursday, then followed it up with a 23-point effort against Texas A&M-Commerce in WT’s 79-71 victory over the Lions. Simmons, who currently ranks 20th in the nation in field goal percentage, shot 60% from the field this week, tallied 17 rebounds (8.5/game) and had two blocks as well.
SOUTH WOMEN’S DEFENSIVE
Precious Herrin, Eastern New Mexico University, JR, Forward, Shreveport, La., Southwood HS/Jacksonville College
Herrin had four steals, a block and six rebounds in last week’s victory at Texas Woman’s to go along with an 18-point performance. She followed with an 18-point, three-block, six-rebound performance against Texas A&M-Commerce. Her play helped limit the opposition to 54 points per game and 36.9 percent from the field on the two-game road trip.