SAN ANTONIO - Midwestern State wasn't in a very good position Saturday night at McDermott Center.

Lone Star Conference scorer Chris Hagan exited the game with an injury six minutes into the second half leaving the Mustangs to find other ways to try to fend off ninth-ranked Incarnate Word.

Still, MSU received game efforts off of the bench as Deuce Nichols and Darrick Thomas combined for 40 points and the Mustangs extended the Cardinals into double overtime before falling 90-83.

"I really thought we were going to win the game," MSU coach Grant McCasland said. "Our morale took a hit when Chris left the game, but I couldn't be more proud of the way our guys stepped up and made plays. I didn't have any doubts because I believe in our guys."

Nichols didn't score his first point until he knocked down a 3-pointer from left wing 3:12 into the second half. It was the first three treys for the junior from Missouri City as he also connected on 7-of-8 from the free throw line to finish with a season-high 20 points.

"Deuce made some big shots and he carried us there for a stretch," McCasland said.

The Mustangs closed the first half on a 23-8 run to erase a 10-point first half deficit to claim a 39-34 lead when Hagan, who finished with 14 points, knocked down a long 2-point shot to beat the buzzer.

The teams were nip-and-tuck throughout the second half with the Cardinals constructing a 55-49 lead on a Kelcey Solomon jumper with 7:32 to play.

The Mustangs chipped as Nichols responded with a 7-0 run of his own as he hit a free throw, converted a traditional three-point play then knocked down another trey from the left wing to push the Mustangs ahead 56-55 with 6:00 to go.

Midwestern maintained the same advantage into the final minute of the game, but the Cardinals struck for a quick run.

Solomon hit a runner in the lan with 52.2 seconds to play before Shawn Umeh converted a steal and dunk to knot the game at 66-66 with 44.2 remaining.

The teams would exchange 1-of-2 trips to the foul line before heading into the first overtime.

The Mustangs appeared to be in the driver's seat as Kevin Loyd canned a pair of charity tosses with 6.1 seconds remaining to give MSU a 77-74 advantage, but UIW's Eric Stewart buried a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into a second overtime.

Incarnate Word outscored the Mustangs 13-6 to seal the victory to claim its 16th straight home win as the Cardinals improved to 14-2 on the season and to 3-1 in LSC South Division play.

Thomas connected on 7-of-8 shots and was 6-of-10 from the free throw line to complete his first double-double of the season with 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Stewart paced UIW with 23 points, while Tracy Robinson added 22 points and nine rebounds.

It was the sixth straight regular season overtime contest between the teams and fourth consecutive game at McDermott Center. The teams have now split those contests.

Midwestern State (14-4, 2-2) travels to Texas A&M-Kingsville Wednesday night at Steinke Center. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.