The
Mustangs (24-6) have now won the LSC tournament four times in the last 10 years,
including twice in the last three seasons. MSU, the No. 1 overall seed, didn't
even qualify for the tournament a year ago, but rebounded this year, thanks to
winning 21 of their 23 games. LSC South Division Player of the Year
Nolan
Richardson (6'2''-G), who had scored 40 points in the first two games of the
tournament, picked up two early fouls and had just two points at the half. But
playing with his grandfather, former Arkansas coach
Nolan
Richardson in attendance, Richardson hit three 3-pointers in the second half
and finished the game with 15 points, earning MVP honors of the tournament. The
Mustangs got some huge production off the bench from both
Anthony Moore (6'3''-G), who scored 13 points and had 14 rebounds.
Trajinski Grigsby (6'7''-F-86, college:
S.Alabama)
had 15 points, hitting three big 3-pointers. Point guard
Earl
Rabb (6'3''-G) had seven points, six assists and four rebounds. Along with
Richardson, Rabb and Moore were named to the all-tournament team. The rest of
the team included SWOSU's
Abdullah Lawal (6'1''-G) and
Clarke
Hale (6'2''-G), along with
Eric
Cazenave (6'1''-G-87) from Central Oklahoma. MSU gets the automatic bid to
next week's tournament and should be one of the top three seeds. The Bulldogs'
season will likely end at 19-11 considering they were not included in the latest
South Central Regional rankings. SWOSU had three players in double figures, led
by Hale's 17 points.
Kenneth White (6'2''-G-85) scored 16 and Jordan Frosch added 10. The
Bulldogs were one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the LSC, but were just
5-of-23 on Sunday. The Mustangs were 7-of-15 from beyond the arc, but five came
in the second half. MSU led by as much as seven in the first half, but led only
34-29 at the half. The Bulldogs scored the first points of the second half to
cut the lead to three, but they would never get any closer. Midwestern went on
an 8-1 run, paced by two Richardson 3-pointers. A 3-pointer by Grigsby with 7:26
to play gave MSU its largest lead at 15, although SWOSU would trim it down to
six with a minute to play. But free throws by Richardson and Moore put the game
away, giving the championship to the Mustangs.
It was a special moment for MSU head coach
Jeff Ray
, whose father suffered a stroke passed away in the middle of the season. The
Mustangs have dedicated the rest of the season in his honor. Ray's father,
Bobby, who went by the nickname 'Fuzz' had served as an assistant coach. During
the game, MSU had left an open chair on the bench. In the final minutes of play,
once the Mustangs gained complete control, two MSU fans unveiled a huge homemade
sign that read 'For Fuzz' which ignited the Midwestern players and fans. After
the game, the Mustangs players carried Ray on their shoulders and let him cut
the final piece down of the championship net.
Courtesy of lonestarconference
Tournament Final: Midwestern State - Southwestern Oklahoma
66-60 Tournament Semifinals: Southwestern Oklahoma - Central Oklahoma 69-67
Midwestern State - Texas A&M-Kingsville 76-62
All-LSC South Division 2nd Team Dejan
Sencanski (6'6''-F-84) of Abilene Christian Ryan
Bennett (5'11''-G-87) of Angelo State Earl
Rabb of Midwestern State Clyde
Johnson (6'5''-F) of Texas A&M-Kingsville Dante
Adams (6'3''-G-87) of Abilene Christian
All-LSC South Division Honorable Mention Malik
Motnii (6'9''-C-87) of Angelo State
Dannon Wafer (6'2''-G) of Eastern New Mexico Craig
Green (6'2''-G-86) of Midwestern State
Marlin Cloudy (6'3''-G-86) of Tarleton State
Anthony Jones (6'6''-F) of Texas A&M-Kingsville Nick
Burns (6'1''-G-87) of West Texas A&M
LSC South Division Player of the Year:Nolan
Richardson of Midwestern State LSC South Division Defensive Player of the Year:
Anthony Jones of Texas A&M-Kingsville LSC South Division Freshman of the Year:Kalif
Bakare (5'11''-G) of Tarleton State LSC South Division Newcomer of the Year:Lionel
Brown of Angelo State LSC South Division Coach of the Year:Jeff Ray
of Midwestern State
LSC North Division Player of the Year:Lance
Harper of Central Oklahoma LSC North Division Defensive Player of the Year:
Abdullah Lawal of Southwestern Oklahoma LSC North Division Freshman of the Year:Brad
Hambrick (6'0''-G) of Texas A&M-Commerce LSC North Division Newcomer of the Year:
Deundrae Spraggins of Texas A&M-Commerce LSC North Division Co-Coach of the Year: Terry
Evans of Central Oklahoma and
Alexander Wade of Cameron
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Ray
The
Mustangs (24-6) have now won the LSC tournament four times in the last 10 years,
including twice in the last three seasons. MSU, the No. 1 overall seed, didn't
even qualify for the tournament a year ago, but rebounded this year, thanks to
winning 21 of their 23 games. LSC South Division Player of the Year
