STEPHENVILLE, Texas - Metropolitan State University of Denver blew a five-point lead with 5:38 remaining as Midwestern State (Texas) upset the Roadrunners 58-56 on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Stephenville, Texas. MSU Denver ended its season at 26-6 overall, while the Mustangs improved to 22-8. MSU Denver was the No. 2 seed in the South Central Region, while Midwestern State was the No. 7 seed.
 
Down 56-54 with 30 seconds left, Will Sinclair (Lilydale, Australia/Lilydale Heights College) tipped in the tying basket with 13.5 seconds left and drew a foul, but his basket was waved off. After missing both free throws, Midwestern State made 1-of-2 at the line with 6.3 seconds to go. Mitch McCarron (Brisbane, Australia/Genesis Christian College) then drove the length of the floor and threw down a dunk with less than a second left to bring MSU Denver within one point. After the Mustangs made 1-of-2 at the line, there was not enough time to get off a potential winning shot.
 
Nicholas Kay (Tamworth, Australia/Newington College) led the Roadrunners with 29 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 12-of-17 at the line. McCarron was 0-for-7 and scoreless in the first half, but recovered to score 14 points in the second half and add five assists. Sinclair finished with five points and seven rebounds. DeShawn Phenix (Fort Worth, Texas/North Crowley H.S.) had four points and seven rebounds.
 
The Roadrunners struggled offensively in the first half, shooting just 29.6 percent from the floor. Midwestern State took a 24-21 lead into halftime after leading by as many as eight points.
 
A 9-1 run by the Roadrunners early in the second half tied the game at 30-30 with 13 minutes remaining.
 
MSU Denver led by five points with 5:38 remaining after two free throws by Kay, but Bretson McNeal nailed a 3-pointer on the ensuing Midwestern State possession to bring the Mustangs right back in the game.
 
The Roadrunners shot 36 percent in the game, while the Mustangs connected at a 42.2 percent rate, including 6-of-19 3-point field goals.
 
McNeal led Midwestern State with 19 points, hitting 5-of-9 from the outside.
 
MSU Denver says goodbye to five seniors in Kay, McCarron, Sinclair, Phenix and Sam Porter (Arvada, Colo./Arvada West H.S.).