Brett Royster’s dunk with 1:48 to play gave Florida Atlantic a two-point lead, and two missed free throws by Mississippi State with one second left gave the Owls a 61-59 victory Tuesday night at Starkville.

The Owls (4-4) rallied from a 13-point deficit to snap a three-game losing streak and hand Mississippi State its first loss of the season. Down 33-20 with 3:53 to go in the first half, Florida Atlantic worked its way back into the game, taking the lead on Shavar Richardson’s layup with 10:36 remaining.

The Bulldogs (4-1) reclaimed the lead on Twany Beckham’s layup with 3:35 to go, 55-54. But a Kore White free throw tied the game with 2:09 on the clock, and Royster’s jam 21 seconds later gave the Owls the lead for keeps at 57-55

The Owls led 61-59 after Greg Gantt made one of two free throws with eight seconds left. Mississippi State’s Brian Bryant was fouled with one second remaining. But Bryant, a 70 percent free throw shooter on the season, missed both attempts.

The Bulldogs came in having hit 40 percent of their 3-point attempts (40-of-100) but struggled from the outside, finishing just 3-of-16 (18.8 percent) on 3’s.

White led the Owls with 18 points. Greg Gantt added 12 points. Johnson paced the Bulldogs with 18 points. Kodi Augustus added 13 points.

Both teams return to action Saturday at home. Mississippi State welcomes in Alabama State, while the Owls play host to South Florida on Saturday.