Lone Star Conference play continues with 20 league games (nine men, 11 women) on the schedule before the Holiday break. Three men’s teams and two women’s squads remain perfect in LSC games.
The top eight men’s and eight women’s teams will qualify for the championship to be played Feb. 29 - March 4 in Allen, Texas. The postseason tournament will decide the tournament champion and the LSC’s automatic qualification to the NCAA tournament.
The LSC men have a 59-30 overall record so far this season. Midwestern State is the lone unbeaten team, with two other squads having just one loss. In the NCAA South Central Region, the men’s teams are currently 22-12 overall including 14-10 combined versus Heartland Conference teams, 4-1 opposed to the Great American Conference and 4-1 against the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).
The LSC women are 41-41 overall, with three teams - Cameron, Incarnate Word and Texas Woman’s - with two losses overall. In the NCAA South Central Region, the women’s teams are currently 21-15 overall including 16-8 combined versus Heartland teams, 4-4 opposed to the Great American and 1-3 against the MIAA.
FAST BREAK
Texas Woman’s Cambria Smith leads the nation in assists with 8.5 per game.
Midwestern State is one of 14 Division II teams with a perfect won-loss record at 7-0. The Mustangs are off to a 7-0 start for the eighth time in school history.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
MEN’S OFFENSIVE
JaMichael Rivers, Midwestern State University, JR, Guard, Tuscaloosa, Ala., Warrior Academy
Rivers poured in a season-high 30 points to lift No. 24 Midwestern State to a thrilling 65-61 win over Angelo State Monday night at Junell Center/Stephens Arena. The 6-5 junior from Tuscaloosa drilled consecutive treys as part of a 10-2 run to help the Mustangs erase a 53-41 deficit with 8:15 to play. Rivers scored 21 second-half points including 12 in the final eight minutes to help the Mustangs roll to 7-0 for the eighth time in school history.
MEN’S DEFENSIVE
Thomas Razor, Cameron University, SR, Guard, Lawton, Okla., Lawton HS
Razor was able to hold Angelo State’s Keenen Coleman and Abilene Christian’s Zach Williams, who each lead their team in scoring, to a combined 12 points during Cameron’s two-game winning streak. Against ASU, Razor held Coleman to 1-7 from the floor and two points. He was also able to force six turnovers against Williams and nine combined in two games. Razor had three steals and paced the Aggies defense which limited opponents to a .377 field goal percentage.
WOMEN’S OFFENSIVE
Peyton Adamson, Tarleton State University, SO, Guard, Rockwall, Texas, Rockwall HS
Adamson saved her best game of the season for Saturday’s tough LSC match-up against, then 6-1, Incarnate Word. The sophomore transfer drained a career-high seven 3-pointers en route to a 27-point performance to lift the TexAnns over the Cardinals 83-64. In addition to her effort against UIW, the sophomore transfer scored 12 points in Wednesday’s win at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
WOMEN’S DEFENSIVE
Sabelle Diata, Cameron University, SR, Center, Dakar, Senegal, Northeastern JC
Diata’s length and athleticism in the post is a constant problem for opponents. Against Angelo State, she had three blocks, accounted for a number of altered shots and secured key rebounds down the stretch to go with 10 points and 10 rebounds. At Abilene Christian, Diata played tight defense, making the Wildcats work every possession in the post. She finished the game with 11 rebounds and 13 points for her second consecutive double-double.