With a 16-2 record overall record and 5-1 in conference play, the mens’ basketball team is off to an impressive start.

“We have our goals in executing and winning championships,” said Breston McNeal, starting guard and business senior said. “That’s our everyday attitude. As long as we keep that attitude. I’m pretty sure we can go far.”

The men are averaging 88 points per game.

Khapri Alston, starting forward and sports management senior said, “We have numerous scorers from each position and it’s not just with starters. We have multiple player that can come off the bench and can score the ball as well.”

According to assistant coach Tres Segler, the team has implemented a next man up strategy. Once one of their starting players goes out due to injury, fatigue, or fouls, another player will take their place.

“With our depth, it has really been our strength. We can go to our seventh or eighth guy and they’re still able to do work,” said Segler.

Two seniors, Breston McNeal and Khapri Alston, have played big leadership roles this season and are one of the reasons why the team is at the peak they are at.

“These guys were unbelievable at enforcing our team principles all throughout the offseason,” Segler said. “We can’t work with them in the summer, so they have to do everything by themselves. They did a great job, man for man, they showed leadership enforcing our ideals and what we’re going to be made of. They were coaching themselves during the summer. They would all get together and lift weights, play and do workouts by themselves.”

The team’s chemistry is what brought them together as one and why they are on such a roll.

“The chemistry is really good. The guys are funny, they are really goofy, so that makes it fun, but I think all in all, at the base level that they want to win every game they want to play, so anytime that you have that much commonality and a goal brings in a lot of good chemistry,” Segler said

With the Mustangs failing to win the Lone Star Conference, this gives them more of a reason to win it all this season.

“Any time you don’t win that league title, you want to come back the next year and do it,” McNeal said. “No arrogance, we don’t talk about winning the league as much as winning the national championship. We know to be winning the National Championship, we are going to have to win the conference championship.”

Khapri Alston has been nominated for “hero of the week” by HeroSports.com after his game against No. 11 Angelo State. The senior put up career highs with 27 points and 25 rebounds against the Rams to push the game into overtime. Alston’s 25 rebounds were tied for sixth-most in school history. This was Alston’s seventh double-double of the season improving his averages to 18.5 points and 17.0 rebounds last week while shooting 51.9 percent from the field. This season he is averaged 14.2 points and 13.2 rebounds in just 28.8 minutes per game in Lone Star Conference play.

“It’s a truly blessing to be nominated for this award. It shows that hard work does pay-off,” Alston said.

The men’s basketball team will be facing Cameron University on Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.