PUEBLO, Colo. -- No. 22-ranked Midwestern State put the defensive clamps on Colorado State-Pueblo in the opening in an 88-72 win Thursday night at Massari Arena.
 
MSU limited the Thunderwolves 27-percent shooting in the opening half including a 1-of-9 performance from beyond the arc after CSU-P bombed in 24 triples and shot 44.4 percent from beyond the arc in a pair of wins last weekend in Kingsville.
 
"We did a great job of not using our hands both on the ball and off the ball," MSU coach Nelson Haggerty said. "Being able to help and get off of those guys to challenge shots was very important."
 
That said, it was the defense of LSC Preseason Player of the Year Bretson McNeal that sparked the Mustangs' energy at the start of the second half.
 
McNeal tipped the ball away from CSU-P's Chris Golden and made a pass to a streak Hershell Grant while diving on the floor. The hustle resulted in a traditional three-point play to extend the Mustangs' lead back out into double figures at 43-32.
 
"When you have your best players giving up their bodies for the betterment of the team, it's contagious," Haggerty said.
 
MSU would lead by as many as 19 points as senior guard Jordan Stevens scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half to lead a pack of four starter in double figures.
 
McNeal was limited to a single 3-pointer after hitting six in the season, but worked his way to 13 points on 6-of-14 shooting, while Grant added 11 points and four rebounds and senior forward Khapri Alston notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards.
 
Due in a large to Alston and senior DeVaughn Jones, who had six points and seven rebounds off of the bench, the Mustangs dominated the glass by a 52-33 margin.
 
"This was our biggest test so far and had learned some through adversity," Haggerty said. "We were a little loose with the ball when we got the lead and we can't do that. We won the game because of the we attacked the glass."
 
The Mustangs stymied Colorado State-Pueblo leading scorer Chris Golden, who came in averaging 31.5 points per game connecting on 15 3s in his first two games.
 
But against MSU, the Weber State transfer connected on just 2-of-12 shot from the field -- both were 3-pointers -- and finished with eight points.
 
"We did a great job on Golden. Bret was on him. As good as he has been on offense, he took on the hefty challenge of guarding him," Haggerty said.
 
Junior guard Sheldon Hagigal continued his solid play with 11 points on 3-of-6 shooting while four assists in 16 minutes off of the bench.
 
Midwestern State takes on Adams State Saturday night at Plachy Hall in Alamosa, Colo. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. (Central Time).