FORT SMITH, Ark. -- As a team, Midwestern State had seen enough in the first half of Saturday's game against Arkansas-Fort Smith.
 
MSU permitted the Lions to shoot nearly 60 percent from the field with Lone Star Conference scoring leader Brian Halums needing just 13 shots to put up 19 of his game-high 29 points to help UAFS establish an 11-point halftime advantage.
 
Midwestern State found inspiration through ownership to surge into a lead in the second half before falling 66-62 at Stubblefield Center.
 
"All year, I have been trying to get these guys to pull in the same direction. It is human nature when things get difficult that you start pointing fingers and blaming," MSU Texas coach Justin Leslie said. "I couldn't have been more impressed. They just went right to it and took ownership saying that was terrible and we cannot do that."
 
The Mustangs washed the first half performance away before springing out of the under-12 media timeout on a 14-2 run ignited with eight consecutive points from freshman Evan McCarthy who buried consecutive 3-pointers from the exact same spot on the right wing before weaving through the UAFS defense for a transition layup.
 
Senior D'monta Harris followed with a triple from the top of the key before sophomore Trae Jones drilled a kick-out triple from the corner to post the Mustangs to a 53-52 lead with 7:22 to play.
 
"It was constructive how they were talking to each other and supporting each other," Leslie said. "I just gave them a few X's and O's differences to change. They were minor things, but it was heart. It was leadership. I just have to say I couldn't be more proud of Elijah Lee and his leadership that he displayed out there and Jaylin Brown. They did a wonderful job of getting the guys in the same direction. The bench was fantastic. When you get a group of young men pulling together in the same direction some good things can happen."
 
Lee dished out a team-high seven assists as the Mustangs recorded helpers on 18 of 22 made field goals.
 
"That's the kind of growth we need to see. The ball has energy. It is good to see the guys are putting passes on time and on target. That's team basketball," Leslie said.
 
Brown anchored the Mustangs on the defensive end helping to hassle Halums into 2-of-10 shooting in the second half.
 
"If you do your job, those percentages are going to work out in your favor if you stay solid," Leslie said. "The thing about a good scorer is they are going to make some tough shots. The first two shots he made, we did everything right on defense. Sometimes good offense is going to be better and make the shot and we hung our head because he made the tough shot. We didn't play as hard on the second, third and fourth look that he got so that got him rolling."
 
Consecutive dunks by Chris Rollins steadied UAFS over the final four minutes as the Lions outscored Midwestern 10-3 down the stretch to seal the victory.
 
"When we got the lead, we had some plays that we could have got some separation to win the thing, but the effort and team attitude was something that was great to see," Leslie said.
 
Midwestern State suffered its second straight loss to fall to 3-15 overall and 3-9 in Lone Star Conference play. It was the Mustangs' 10th loss by five-or-fewer points.
 
"Rome wasn't built in a day and we've had our challenges this year," Leslie said. "There's never any excuse not to be the best teammate and be a part of a community we are in. We're about instilling the championship culture both on and off of the court."
 
Midwestern State takes on Texas A&M-Kingsville Thursday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.