WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Chris Hagan hit a driving layup with 58 seconds and No. 3 Midwestern State survived a pair of Tremayne Luellen layup attempts in the final minute to outlast the Mules 60-59 for the NCAA Division II South Central Region championship Tuesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

The Mustangs, who matched a school record with their 31st victory, advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history.

MSU is tentatively set to face St. Cloud State (Minn.) Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. Central Time in the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.

"I'm extremely happy for our basketball team, for our university and for our community that we were able to win the basketball game tonight," MSU coach Grant McCasland said. "Central Missouri is the best basketball team we played this year and I think we played the best two players we played against this year."

UCM senior Sanijay Watts poured in a team-high 29 points and pulled nine rebounds as the Mules overcame a 14-point deficit midway through the first half to lead by as many as six in the second half.

In the second half, UCM guard Alex Moosmann canned each of his three treys for the game after being limited to four points in the opening half.

The Mules would carry a six-point lead after Watts canned a pair of free throws to give Central Missouri a 59-53 edge with 3:02 to go.

"We just knew we were going to have to keep fighting," MSU guard Jason Ebie said. "We knew it was the championship game. Every team that's here, we know they're good and they are here for a reason."

The Mustangs jumped back quickly with a pair of Ebie layups before Hagan hit the back end of a two-shot foul before he canned a runner with 58 seconds to remaining to give MSU a 60-59 lead.

Luellen missed a wide open layup, then was unable to get off a shot after going the length of the floor in six seconds.

Hagan added 15 points, four rebounds and four assists for the Mustangs.

Midwestern State improved to 31-2 while Central Missouri finished the season at 27-4.