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The Southwest Minnesota State basketball team is fighting for their NCAA tournament dreams.
They are fighting to push their seniors last game, one game longer.
They were not ranked in the latest Cenral Regional poll, meaning they need to win the NSIC tournament to get an invite to the big tourney.
The Mustangs passed the first test as they upset the Mavericks 80-78 at Bresnan Arena Wednesday night - a place where the Mavericks are almost unbeatable.
"It was tough to match their intensity," said guard Cam Hodges. "They played like they had nothing to lose. We played soft."
The Mavericks led 17-14 10 minutes into the game, but looked shaky offensivley as they were 1-8 from the 3-point line early on.
Southwest took its first lead with six minutes left, leading 25-24, but the lead was shortlived as Hodges hit two big threes before the half. A huge Jermain Davis block brought the Mavericks into half leading 42-37.
Davis started the second half with a three followed with one from Hodges.
Hodges, not normally a 3-point shooter (he had five total before Wednesday's game), was 5-6 from the 3-point line Wednesday night, keeping the Mavericks in the game.
"I guess I was just playing with some confidence," Hodges said. "The shots were falling."
Unfortunately for the Mavericks, the shots were falling for the Mustangs also.
The Mustangs shot 66% in the second half, finding themselves tied with the Mavericks at 58 with 10 minutes remaining.
Back-to-back threes from Hodges and Clark put the Mavericks up 66-62 and it looked as if the No. 8 team was going to pull away with the game.
The two teams went back and fourth and the Mavericks led 78-77 with 1:22 remaining.
After a quick make from the Mustangs, a missed shot from the Mavericks, followed by a free-throw from the Mustangs, MSU suddenly trailed 80-78 going into the final seconds.
Senior center Travis Nelson went up for the last-second shot, and appeared to be fouled, but no call was made.
The game had ended with fans, coaches and players wondering if the correct call was made.
"If the ref didn't call it, I guess it wasn't a foul," Hodges said. "I am not going to really talk about that."
Nelson finished with a team-high 18 points, as Davis and Jefferson Mason both has 12 points.
The Mustangs will now try to continue their journey as they will now play Winona State.
As for the Mavericks, they will have to wait until Sunday to find out if they will remain the No. 1 seed in the region and if they will be hosting during the regional tournament.
A certain loss will work to the Mavericks' favor.
Third-seeded Augustana, a team that beat MSU twice this season, lost 75-52 against sixth-seeded Wayne State.
The Vikings are the only team that likely had the chance to surpass the Mavericks in the regional rankings.
"We are just going to have to practice this weekend and see where we are on Sunday," said MSU head coach Matt Margenthaler. "We will need to refocus. We need to know that if we lose in the next tournament, our season is over. These guys have been great so far, but they know what they are capable of."
MSU is currently 24-4 this season along with a 17-3 regular season conference record.
"If we have to hit the road, it doesn't change," Hodges said. "We still have to do what we have to do. We will know everything on Sunday."
Regionals will run from March 13-16. If the Mavericks were to get the No.1 seed, the games will be played at Bresnan Arena.
The NCAA Elite Eight is scheduled for March 24-27.
Kyle Ratke is the Reporter sports editor
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