Mustangs Men pull out 64-61 win over East Central

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Midwestern State University overcame a 12-point second half deficit and used free throws down the stretch to snap a three-game losing streak and beat East Central University (Okla.) 64-61 Monday night at Gerald Stockton Court in D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

MSU (4-3) rode the back of seniors Drew Coffman and Chad Rickett down the stretch. Coffman turned the game around with 2:40 to play.

Down by two, Coffman tied the game at 60 with a pair of free throws, then stole the inbounds pass and was fouled. He stepped up to the line and nailed two more to give MSU a lead they would never relinquish.

East Central's Terrell Carpenter was fouled with 2:33 to go, but he made only one of two from the line.

The Mustangs came down the floor and missed two shots, but the glass was kind to MSU. The Mustangs grabbed both offensive boards to run down the clock before Rickett hit a jumper with 1:17 to play for the 64-61 lead.

ECU had a shot to tie the game, but Jason Thomas' three at the buzzer bounced hard off the back rim to give MSU the win.

Coffman led all scorers with 23 points, his fourth 20-plus game of the season. Rickett added 16 points as well. Christopher Reay snared eight boards and Chris Davis seven for MSU.

Senior center Eric Dawson, playing on a sore right ankle, went down early in the second half after twisting the ankle twice in the contest. He blocked four shots and grabbed four rebounds in just 16 minutes before leaving.

East Central (1-4) got 22 points from Carpenter, the only Tiger who scored in double digits. Brandon Bingle pulled down 17 rebounds for ECU.

The contest was the rescheduled game from Nov. 30, when snow and icey conditions force the postponement of the contest.

The MSU men are now off for finals this week and will return to the court a week from Tuesday in the St. Mary's Classic. They open play in

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