SAN ANGELO, Texas – Midwestern State did everything right on the defensive against Lone Star Conference Preseason Player of the Year Marcus Hubbard.

The 6-8 forward scored just three points for Angelo State in the first half.

But Hubbard was a menace on the defensive himself as he blocked eight shots and had three steals as he ignited a 53-point second-half deluge as the Rams came away with a 78-70 LSC South Division win Wednesday night at Junell Center.

"A lot of the difference tonight was Hubbard making things difficult around the basket," MSU coach Jeff Ray said. "We did a great job on him in the first half, but I thought our team did a better job defensive in the second half."

But that didn't bother Angelo State, which improved to 13-6 on the season and 2-2 in LSC South play.

"In the second half, they just shot the ball well," Ray said. "24 (Brice Nengsu) and 34 (Roger Johnson) hit some deep shots with a hand in their face. You've got to give them credit for that.

Nengsu and Johnson combined for seven 3-pointers in the second half to key a 7-for-11 performance by the Rams from the arc in the second half.

Nengsu matched Trajinski Grigsby's trey from the left wing three minutes into the second half with his first 3 of the half at the 17:15 mark to pull Angelo State within 31-30 after MSU took a 26-25 lead into the intermission.

It was Nengsu again who answered Nolan Richardson IV's trey that had tied the contest at 34-34 at the 16:03.

Nengsu's second 3-pointer of the half ignited a 17-6 run as the Rams rolled out to a 54-43 lead on Hubbard's driving layup with 9:41 to play.

The Rams would lead by as many as 13, but Midwestern State did slice the deficit to five points in the closing minute. The Mustangs could get no closer.

"We have kids fighting and doing things right," Ray said. "We ran our motion well, but you just need to make more shots. Sometimes when you lose your confidence, it's hard to get it back."

The Mustangs have now dropped six of their last eight to fall to 9-10 on the season and 1-4 in LSC South Division play.

Grigsby recorded his seventh double-double of the season by finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Richardson paced MSU with 19 points including five 3-pointers.

Midwestern State closes out the first half division play Saturday when it plays host to Eastern New Mexico at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.