RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. -- Arkansas Tech's Bobby Hatchett knocked down a pair of free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining to lift Wonder Boys past No. 6-ranked Midwestern State 58-57 in the finale of the ATU Thanksgiving Classic Saturday night at Tucker Coliseum.

"We played hard and we competed," MSU coach Nelson Haggerty said. "We need to get better in a few areas and do it quickly."

The Mustangs, who suffered their second consecutive loss to fall to 5-2, return to D.L. Ligon Coliseum Tuesday night to take on Science & Arts (Okla.). Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

Hatchett's free throws capped a 9-0 run over the final 3:47 as ATU overcame a 14-point deficit early in the second half -- primarily by taking advantage of the free-throw line.

"We didn't get a chance to go to the free throw line then when we did, we didn't hit them," Haggerty said. "We got outshot 38-8 from the free throw line, so we need to learn how to guard without fouling. It's very hard to overcome that."

The Mustangs trailed just twice in the contest -- after the first basket of the game and after Hatchett's free throws at the end.

In between, MSU controlled the game by extending the advantage to 28-16 after junior guard Derrell Gibbs converted a transition layup with 3:54 remaining in the opening half.

The Mustangs fought through foul trouble throughout the first half going forcing Haggerty to sit senior guard Monzaigo Williams for the final 8 minutes of the opening half.

Still, the Mustangs controlled a 10-point advantage at the half as Gibbs connected on 8 of his season-high 13 points in the opening including three 3-pointers.

MSU pushed its lead to a game-high 14 points opening the half with a three-point play from Derek Kaster and a Gibbs' three 3-ball of the game for a 40-26 bulge.

"We fought," Haggerty said. "I thought we came out with good energy and handled the zone well. We didn't settle for 3s and we got in the lane very well."

The Wonder Boys chipped away by connecting on 16-of-20 shots from the charity stripe in the second half finally drawing even at 47-47 with 7:05 to play.

The Mustangs answered with a quick 10-2 run fueled by a transition layup and two 3-pointers by Willliams to stretch the league back out to 57-49 with 4:02 to play. They wouldn't score again.

ATU's Bryson Fletcher hit a runner in the lane and Darrick Little nailed a trey on a break to cut the lead to 57-54 with 3:14 to play.

Kaster and senior guard Cameron Adderley misfired on the front end of one-and-ones in the closing minutes allowing Hatchett to bury free throws with 25 and 1.4 seconds remaining for the win.

Williams finished with a team-high 14 points and dished out five assists, while senior guard DeJuan Plummer hit a pair of treys to finish with 10 points off of the bench.

Hatchett attacked the lane to go 10-of-12 from the free throw line on his way to a game-high 16 points and four steals. Fletcher pitched in 14 points -- all in the second half.

Arkansas Tech improved to 5-2 on the season.