MSU men snap four-game skid, beat Angelo State 73-67
SAN ANGELO, Texas - Eric Dawson collected his tenth double-double of the season Wednesday night as the Midwestern State University Mustangs claimed their first LSC South Division win of the season, upending the Angelo State University Rams 73-67 at Junell Center/Stephens Arena.
The 6-9 senior center scored 19 points, pulled down 11 rebounds, dished out six assists and swiped eight steals as the Mustangs improved to 12-9 on the season and 1-5 in the LSC South.
The Rams have now lost 10 of their last 11 games and fell to 8-13 and 0-6.
MSU used an 11-3 run over the final 4:21 of the first half to take a 40-30 lead into halftime.
The Mustangs connected on 15 of 30 shots from the field in the first half, including four from beyond the arc.
Midwestern State extended its lead to 17 when Chad Rickett converted a Dawson steal into a transition layup to give the Mustangs 53-36 lead a little more than five minutes into the second half.
Rickett would finish the game with 17 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Angelo State's Brian Young hit consecutive 3-pointers to key a 16-5 run over the next seven minutes. The Rams whittled the MSU lead to 58-52 after Young followed Damien Mathieu's missed trey with a álayup at the 7:07 mark.
Young led the Rams with 21 points and 10 boards on 9-of-15 shooting, including three 3's in the second half.
The margin dwindled to single point before Rickett converted a three-point play with 2:12 remaining.
Allen Houston followed with a layup off of a Dawso steal, then Dawson added a steal and a layup to complete a 7-0 run and give the Mustangs 70-62 lead with 90 seconds remaining.
Tate Lombard joined Rickett and Dawson in double figures for the Mustangs with 13 points. Eddie Rowe scored two points, but led MSU with seven assists.
J.R. Pittman also notched a double-double for Angelo State with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Rashawn Childs had 13 points and five assists.
Midwestern State returns to action Saturday night when it plays host to Abilene Christian as part of a doubleheader on
Stockton Court at Ligon Coliseum. The women are slated to tipoff at 6 p.m., with the means games following 30 minutes later, approximately 8 p.m.+++ MSU +++