TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Midwestern State University allowed Northeastern State University to get close, but the Mustangs never trailed in the second half as they won their eighth straight with a 64-55 Lone Star Conference division crossover victory on Thursday.

MSU (11-3) trailed early in the contest, but a 9-1 run late in the first half gave the Mustangs a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

MSU took an 11-point lead when Drew Coffman hit a running jumper at the first half horn.

But the Redmen (5-9) didn't give up.  NSU came out of the first media timeout of the second half with a 15-6 run to pull within a point when Ben Rovenstine buried a three to make the score 46-45 with 9:50 to play.

MSU didn't allow the Redmen to take the lead, then hung on for the win.

The Mustangs were paced by the play of senior Eric Dawson who picked up his ninth double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds to go with three blocked shots.  Chris Davis chipped in 12 points and Jeremy Ford 11 for MSU.

Northeastern collected 22 points and six boards from Steve Neal, while LaMont George added 15 points for the Redmen.

MSU outshot NSU, hitting 46 percent from the floor to 41 percent.  But it was the Mustangs 36-22 advantage on the boards that kept MSU in the lead.

Midwestern State closes LSC divisional crossover play on Saturday afternoon at Central Oklahoma.  The men's game is set to tip about 4 p.m. in Edmond.