ABILENE, Texas — Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team held off a furious Mississippi College rally thanks to 14 straight points from Matt Addison as HSU won 84-78 in American Southwest Conference action at the Mabee Complex.

The Cowboys started off the game strong and led 18-8 with 13:47 to play and maintained mostly a double-digit lead the whole first half. The biggest lead game at the 2:23 mark when Terrance Booker hit three free throws to make it 39-24 and it was 39-28 at halftime.

In the second half, MC whittled away at the deficit and cut it to 60-56 with 9:22 to play then Addison took over. After two free throws by Casey Riddle made it 62-56, Addison hit back to-back 3-pointers then hit a runner in the lane to push the lead out to 70-60 with 6:16 to play. MC scored six straight points then Addison hit two free throws and two floaters in the lane to cap his personal 14 straight points with 2:56 to play.

MC did not go away  as the Cowboys lead 74-69 after Addison's second floater, but the Choctaws cut it to 79-78 with 1:11 to play on a layup by Keandre' Smith. Booker then hit layups on back-to-back possessions to seal the game for the Cowboys.

Addison had 24 points, nine assists and seven steals in the game and Booker had 19 points. Aaron Thornton had 13 points for the Cowboys. HSU shot 45 percent and went 25-of-31 at the foul line. The Cowboys also only lost the battle on the boards 37-36, despite a decided height disadvantage.

Cameron Bounds had 23 points and frontcourt mate Ken Black added 21 to pace Mississippi College. Greg Pulliam added 16 points for the Choctaws, who shot 50 percent in the game, but turned the ball over 22 times and went just 17-of-30 at the free throw line.

The Cowboys are now 7-5 on the season and 6-2 in ASC play. Mississippi College fell to 6-7 overall and to 3-5 in league play. HSU hosts Sul Ross State on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.