Hawkins' Derein Hollman against Cushing Monday at Wagstaff Gymnasium. (Michel Alfaro/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Playoff basketball is all about surviving and advancing.

The No. 10-ranked Hawkins Hawks, who entered the postseason with just two losses on the season, found that on Monday night at Wagstaff Gymnasium.

Cushing, which has a losing record and had to win a play-in game to qualify for the playoffs, came to Tyler looking for an upset.

A 3-pointer by Cushing’s Caden Coats tied the score at 58 with 28 seconds left. Hawkins then got a layup by Paul Smith with 12 seconds remaining, and Derek Hollman came up with a steal and was fouled with one-tenths of a second on the clock. Hollman made both free throws to help the Hawks survive with a 62-58 victory over the Bearkats in the bi-district round of the Class 2A Division I playoffs.

The win gave the Hawks (30-2) an 18-game winning streak.

Hawkins jumped out to an 8-2 lead, but Cushing battled back and consecutive 3-pointers by Eli Dawson and Caden Coates gave the Bearkats an 11-10 lead. Eli Smith connected from downtown to put the Hawks back in front and spark a 7-0 run.

With Hawkins up 19-13, Cushing made six free throws in the final 34 seconds of the first quarter and four in the final seven seconds to tie the score at 19.

Cushing led 24-23 midway into the second quarter, but Hawkins ended the half on an 8-2 run to lead 31-26 at halftime.

The Hawks built a 12-point lead, 50-38, with 2:02 left in the third quarter. Cushing was able to cut the score to 51-44 at the end of the third quarter.

With Hawkins up 54-49, Cushing got a layup by Carson Coats and then another layup by Carson Coats more than 1:30 later. Coats was fouled and made the free throw to tie the score at 54 with 2:51 left.

Hawkins regained the lead with an Eli Snider free throw with 1:55 to play. Hawkins’ lead held until Caden Coats’ triple with 28 seconds left.

Eli Smith led Hawkins with 21 points, three rebounds and three steals. Larry Moungle had 13 pints. Derein Hollman had 9 points and nine rebounds. Derek Hollman had 5 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, and Paul Smith had 5 points. Snider had 4 points and seven rebounds. Brayden Givens and Riggin Smith each had 2 points, and Kenneth Singleton added 1 points.

Dawson led Cushing (11-18) with 22 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Jacob Conway had 11 points and nine rebounds. Caden Coats had 8 points. Elijah Foreman and Carson Coats each scored 7 points, and Foreman had three assists and nine steals. Bo Coleman added 3 points.

Hawkins will Hemphill in the area round. The area contest is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday at Rusk High School.

Hemphill defeated Timpson 52-49 in bi-district.