Mustangs blast Sul Ross State in final tuneup
By: Tobin McDuff
Updated: November 5, 2012
No. 22 Midwestern State blitzed NCAA Division III Sul Ross State 86-48 in its final exhibition tune up Monday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
The Mustangs open the regular season Friday afternoon against Louisiana State-Shreveport in the Southwestern Oklahoma State Classic in Weatherford. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m.
Sophomore transfer Keith Spellman poured in a game-high 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting including three 3-pointers to lead the Mustangs.
MSU used a series a mini-runs and led by as many as 28 points in the opening half when junior point guard Monziago Williams hit a runner in the lane to put the Mustangs ahead 46-18 just over minute before intermission.
Sul Ross State, a member of the American Southwest Conference, rode a 20-point performance from 6-2 post Percy Settle to keep the game respectable midway through the second half.
Settle hit on 9-of-14 shots from the field to go along with five rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 29 minutes. He was the lone Lobo in double figures.
The Mustangs reasserted their will with a 16-4 run midway through the second half to push the lead to 64-36 on Kevin Grayer's jumper from the top of the key with 10:06 to play.
MSU slowly pulled way to extend the advantage to 42 points on a pair of free throws by freshman guard Conner Geiser.
Midwestern did commit 27 turnovers, but outrebounded SRSU by a 56-26 margin as five different MSU players snagged at least five rebounds led by junior forward Derek Kaster, who had nine points and 12 rebounds off of the bench.
Senior forward Corbin Thomas chipped in 14 points and six rebounds in 16 minutes of floor time, while junior forward Eddie D'Haiti had 11 points and nine rebounds.
