General

No. 19 Mustangs fall in NCAA Regional Semifinals

10 March 2007
3 min read

WARRENSBURG,

Mo.

- The No. 19 Midwestern State University Mustangs let a 14-point second half lead slip away against the 11th ranked Southeastern Oklahoma State University Savage Storm, only to get its NCAA Division II South Central Regional Semifinal into overtime on a fabulous three at the buzzer. But it was the Savage Storm that roared in the extra time to claim an 88-77 victory over the Mustangs Sunday night.

MSU finished the season with a 24-7 overall record, while Southeastern moves to 27-4 and the regional championship game on Tuesday night.

MSU held a 14-point 48-34 lead with 17:42 to play and held on to a 57-45 advantage after a Jeremy Ford three pointer with 12:20 to go.

But that's when the Savage Storm took advantage of MSU foul trouble and made it's run.

After using it's next to last time out, SOSU came off the break with a layup by Eric Babers that started a 15-4 run over the next five minutes that cause the Savage Storm to pull within a point.

MSU got Chad Rickett free throws to go back up by three with 6:43 to play, but a Babers came back with a layup and free throw to tie the game at 63-all.

Southeastern went on a 10-3 run to lead 73-66 with 51 seconds left, when things turned MSU's way.

Eric Dawson got a layup and fouled Steve Harrell who hit one of two free throws.

The Mustangs got Drew Coffman to drive the lane for a layup and was fouled by Babers. Coffman made the free throw to pull MSU to within three at 74-71 with 4.9 to play.

The quick foul sent SOSU's Jason Stampley to the line, where he missed both charity tosses.

Dawson

rebounded the last shot and rocketed a pass to Rickett who pulled off a 32-foot jumper over Babers at the horn, hitting nothing but net to tie the score at 74.

But it was SOSU's contest in the OT.

After Stampley made a pair of free throws with 4:20 to play, the Savage Storm never trailed.

After Babers made a layup with 1:55 to go, SOSU would take the free throw parade seriously, hitting six of seven down the stretch to build the final 11-point advantage.

The senior trio of Coffman, Dawson and Rickett led MSU. Coffman collected 19 points with four steals.

Dawson

put up 16 points with 11 rebounds for his 23rd double-double of the season to lead all of Division's I and II, three better than his

Texas

' Kevin Durant and

Nevada

's Nick Fazekas at 20.

Rickett had 16 points with six assists. He finished his career with 1,299 points, tying Henry Crawford for 20th on MSU's all-time scoring list. It was the 11th time he recorded five or more assists this season.

Southeastern's Babers collected 33 points with 16 rebounds, along with seven assists and five blocked shots. Stampley added 16 points with seven boards and Steve Harrel 11 points.

MSU, the Lone Star Conference Champions, advanced to the regional semifinals for the third time in three NCAA appearances.

+++ MSU +++