WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The Midwestern State University Mustangs went on a 6-0 run at the start of overtime and never let up, as the Mustangs defeated Tarleton State University 76-70 to remain in first place in the Lone Star Conference South.

MSU (18-5, 7-2) and Tarleton (17-7, 6-3) battled to 12 ties and seven lead changes through regulation before MSU grabbed the eighth lead change in the overtime in the battle for the LSC South lead.

MSU had a chance to win the game in regulation when the LSC's top free throw shooter, Drew Coffman, went to the line for a 1-and-1 with 40 seconds left.

But Coffman uncharacteristically missed the freebie, but the Mustang defense didn't allow Tarleton to get a good shot to end regulation.

In the overtime, Chad Rickett missed his first free throw, but gave MSU the lead with a second charity toss at the 4:05 mark to lead 65-64.

Then Eric Dawson swiped the ball from the Texans Mike Daniels, and shuffled it to Chris Davis.  Davis found Rickett opened for a jumper to grab a 67-64 advantage.

After TSU missed a three, Rickett found Davis spotted up for three in corner in front of the MSU bench.  Davis drained the trey at the 2:41 mark and MSU was up by six.

TSU's Robert Hartfield answered the three, but the Mustangs ran down the clock, got a shot and an offensive board that led to another Rickett layup.

MSU then was fouled, but Christopher Reay was a perfect 4-of-4 from the line down the stretch and MSU held on for the win.

The Mustangs were paced by 17 points from Rickett, while Dawson notched his 16th double-double with 16 points, 18 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

Coffman tallied 15 points with five assists, while Reay collected 12.

Tarleton State got 22 points from Hartfield with 22 points, while Jeremy Gilbert added 15 points.  John Davis grabbed 11 rebounds, but was held to just nine points.

Midwestern State shot 50 percent from the floor (28-of-56), while nailing 5-of-12 (41.7 percent) from the three-point arc.  MSU was 15-of-22 from the line as well.

Tarleton State connected on 43.1 percent from the floor (25-of-58), including 7-of-20 from the three-point line (35.0 percent) and 13-of-21 from the charity stripe.

Tarleton State outrebounded MSU 39-29 for the game.

The win was the 1,100th for Midwestern State, now with a record of 1,100-733 in 61 seasons.

MSU hosts its final regular season home game Saturday night when Texas A&M-Kingsville visits Gerald Stockton Court at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.  It's Senior Night, with the women's tipoff at 6 p.m., followed by the men about 8 p.m.