Midwestern State trips up Tech

WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Arkansas Tech will have to settle for its first trip to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16.

Playing for a spot in the Division II Elite Eight for the first time, the third-seeded Wonder Boys held a slim lead over host Midwestern State in the second half. But the Mustangs used an almost fiveminute run midway through the half to defeat the Wonder Boys 77-61 on Tuesday at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

Midwestern State, the No. 1 seed in the South Central Regional, improved to 59-1 on its home floor since December 2009 and advances to next week’s Elite Eight in Highland Heights, Ky.

Arkansas Tech ( 26- 6) advanced further in the Division II NCAA Tournament than it ever had. The Wonder Boys beat No. 6 seed West Texas A&M in a first-round game Saturday before beating No. 2 seed Tarleton State in overtime Sunday to advance to Tuesday’s regional final.

The Wonder Boys’ chances of winning a third tournament game didn’t look too daunting through the first 25 minutes of Tuesday’s game. The Wonder Boys never trailed by more than two points in the first half, and the teams were tied 29-29 at halftime after Midwestern State’s David Terrell made a layup with 13 seconds left.

Arkansas Tech took a 32-29 lead on Matt Haney’s threepoint play early in the second half and later led 35-32 on another Haney three-pointer. The Wonder Boys still led 4746 after Johnie Davis’ threepointer with 12:41 left, but the Mustangs took control with a 13-2 run over the next 4:41.

Kevin Grayer scored nine points in the run to help Midwestern State turn its small deficit into a 59-49 lead with 8:00 to go. Grayer’s layup gave the Mustangs a 48-47 lead, and after a turnover by Haney, his jumper put Midwestern State ahead 50-47.

A three- point play by Grayer made it 55-47, and his jumper with 8 minutes left capped the run to give the Broncos a 10-point lead, their biggest of the game to that point.

Arkansas Tech didn’t get closer than six points the rest of the game and trailed by as much as 75-58 with 1:23 left.

Arkansas Tech missed nine consecutive shots during Midwestern State’s deciding run, four of which were threepointers. After allowing both of their previous regional opponents to shoot at least 46 percent, the Mustangs held the Wonder Boys to 34.5 percent shooting (20 of 58).

Arkansas Tech made 9 of 29 three-pointers but missed 10 of 12 over the final 12:06.

Davis led Arkansas Tech with 19 points, while Haney had 12 and Mykel Cleveland added 10.

Michael Loyd led Midwestern State, which shot 48 percent from the field, with 19 points. Jamichael Rivers had 16, Grayer added 13 and Terrell scored 11.

Midwestern State will play Western Washington, the winner of the West Regional, March 21 in the Elite Eight.