COMMERCE, Texas -- Midwestern State battled back from 10 points down with  less than a minute to play before falling to Texas A&M-Commerce -- 85-82 -- in overtime Saturday afternoon at The Field House.
 
"That was a great college basketball game," MSU coach Justin Leslie said. "It was a great game to be a part of. I'll say his again, we are close. They are a very good team."
 
The Mustangs fell to 2-10 on the season and 2-4 in the Lone Star Conference despite taking three one-point losses and dropping two more in overtime.
 
And this one seemed far from OT when Austin Grandstaff finished off an 8-2 run with a free throw to give Texas A&M-Commerce a 70-60 lead with just 58 seconds to play.
 
But the Mustangs wouldn't go away. Trae Jones and D'monta Harris canned back-to-back triples to pull the Mustangs within six just 21 seconds later.
 
The Lions did their fair share down the stretch by missing four of their eight free throws in the final 34 seconds allowing senior Darius Thompson to play hero down the stretch.
 
The senior guard from Memphis hit a driving layup in transition before burying two 3-pointers to send the game to an extra session tied, 74-all.
 
Hot-shooting Texas A&M-Commerce buried six of their first seven 3-point attempts of the game to take control in the first half as the Lions led for nearly 38 minutes, but the Mustangs forced the Lions into misfiring on 18 of their final 21 attempts from the arc.
 
"There were a few timeouts that were a little uncomfortable for the team," Leslie said. "We needed to stick to the game plan and stay connected to their 3-point shooters. We started sticking to that and the clean looks they had went away."
 
Texas A&M-Commerce led by as many as four points in overtime, but could not pull away from the pesky Mustangs.
 
Freshman Evan McCarthy converted a key steal into a layup with 19 seconds to go to pull MSU to within 81-79 then Harris drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key to get the Mustangs the Mustangs to within a point with four seconds to go.
 
Even after a pair of Deon Barrett free throws pushed Texas A&M-Commerce's edge back to three, the Mustangs managed a good look from the top of the key by Elijah Lee which caromed off the backboard at the final horn.
 
"I just hope for these young men know they battled in this is a great environment, but you can't leave it up to one possession," Leslie said. "There are so many other chances throughout the rest of the game."
 
Thompson paced the Mustangs with all-around game of 21 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Harris notched his third double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
 
McCarthy scored in double figures for the third consecutive game knocking down three treys on his way to 11 points. Senior forward Ola Ayodele threatened a double-double with eight points and nine rebounds.
 
"We belong here and can be play with absolutely anyone," Leslie said. "We need to learn to come through the tough times. What I am proud of is that we are staying together and fighting."
 
Wayne Stewart poured in a game-high 27 points and Barrett tallied 23 to pace Texas A&M-Commerce (9-4, 5-2 LSC).
 
Midwestern State takes on St. Edward's Thursday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.