WARRENSBURG, Mo. - The method of basketball in March is to survive and advance.

That's exactly what No. 21 Midwestern State accomplished Saturday night in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional at the University of Central Missouri's Multipurpose Building as the Mustangs held on for an 87-82 win.

"We kinda just hung on," Midwestern State coach Jeff Ray said. "We didn't cover like we normally do, but we did a great job moving the ball on the offensive end."

The Mustangs, who have now won 22 of their last 24 games to improve to 25-6 on the season, move on to face host and No. 1 seed Central Missouri Sunday night in a regional semifinal at 6:30 p.m.

The Mustangs were forced to rely on their guards throughout the contest after Michael Godwin, Charlie Logan, Chris Williams and Trajinski Grigsby were all forced the bench as the Cardinals attacked in the paint on the strength of Jawan Bailey's 12-point first half.

"They are a great 3-point shooting team," Ray said. "Our main focus was to guard No. 5. He wasn't able to have a big game, so ultimately that might have been the difference."

No. 5 was Hearland Conference Player of the Year Pierce Caldwell, who came averaging 16.1 points per game. The senior was limited to nine points and hit just two of his eight shots.

The Mustangs forced the Cardinals to the paint as they were limited to a 4-of-17 showing (23.5 percent) from the arc, UIW came in average more than eight 3-pointers a game hitting 39.6 percent as a team for the season.

With all of the bigs on the bench, the Mustangs went to a four-guard lineup.

"I can't remember playing that lineup more than 15 minutes all year," Ray said. "We just wanted to make it to halftime with a lead  and with less than three fouls."

Junior Craig Green scored nine points and eight rebounds in the first half to allow the Mustangs to hold a 44-36 halftime advantage.

"Craig had a huge first half, then Earl and Bo stepped up in the second half," Ray said. "The only thing matters is that we win and move on."

Incarnate Word surged back from a 13-point deficit and took the lead on Tracy Robinson's layup with 13:51.

But the Mustangs used the inside power Earl Rabb, who finished with a 19 points, seven rebounds and was credited with two assists to surge back ahead and stave off the Cardinals.

Richardson was just 6-of-19 from the field but hit each of his 10 free throws to finish with 24 points, while Green finished with 11 points and eight boards.

Robinson paced the Cardinals with 20 points and seven rebounds.

Incarnate Word finishes the season at 23-7.