Mustangs Rally For Win

WICHITA FALLS, Texas --- Rashad Austin's two free throws with 1.2 seconds to play lifted Midwestern State to a 78-76 Lone Star crossover win over Northeastern State at D.L. Ligon Coliseum Monday night.

The 11th-ranked Mustangs improved to 17-1 overall and snapped Northeastern State's seven-game winning streak. The RiverHawks fell to 13-6.

Tied at 76-all with less than :30 to go, Northeastern State played for what should have been the final shot of the game. However, Dominique Gaines misfired on a 3-point field goal attempt and teammate Jesse Scroggins was called for a foul on the rebound as the clock expired.

After a lengthy video review, the officials placed 1.2 seconds on the clock and Austin drained both charity tosses for the deciding points. Gaines heaved a shot at the buzzer that was well off the mark.

"I thought we outplayed them," said head coach Larry Gipson. "We just made some critical mental errors down the stretch with turnovers and the foul at the end. It was a difficult loss, considering how it happened."

The game featured 10 ties and 13 lead changes. The RiverHawks led by as many as eight points in the second half on two occasions, 64-56 with 7:32 left and 68-60 with 5:49 to go.

However, the Mustangs rallied to tie the game at 71-71 with 3:13 remaining. After two more ties, Midwestern State's Craig Green sank a pair of free throws for a 76-74 lead. But, Jones responded for the RiverHawks with a bucket to tie the contest again at 76, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

Gaines led all scorers with 27 points, while Jones added 25 points and 12 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the year. Michael Godwin paced MSU with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

"I thought Dominique (Gaines) and Jason (Jones) were the best two players on the floor," said Gipson. "We have got to find a way for some other players to step up. We played extremely well. The performance we had tonight will give us wins most nights."

Northeastern State shot 49 percent for the game and limited the Mustangs to 39 percent from the floor, including just two-of 20 attempts from 3-point range.

The RiverHawks will return to LSC North action on Saturday at rival Central Oklahoma. Game time at Hamilton Fieldhouse in Edmond is slated for 8 p.m.