The Angelo State men's basketball team (9-6, 1-0 LSC South) opened Lone Star Conference South Division play with a bang Wednesday night with an 84-76 upset of No. 7-ranked Midwestern State at the Junell Center/Stephens Arena.

The Rams shot 60 percent from the field (18-of-30) in the second half to overcome a five-point halftime deficit and hand MSU (14-1, 0-1 LSC South) its first loss of the season and first regular-season loss in 20 games, dating back to last season. ASU did not hit a three-pointer in the second half and were just 2-of-11 from behind the arc in the game as the Rams used strong rebounding and inside play to earn the upset. ASU out-rebounded the Mustangs, 45-30, on the night and held a 24-8 advantage in second-chance points.

The Mustangs stormed out of the gate to take an early 14-5 lead thanks to seven ASU turnovers in the first 4:12 of the contest. MSU would widen its lead to as many as 11 points at one point before the Rams would settle down and battle back.

Senior Derrick Webster would trim the deficit to two points, 27-25, with 7:10 on an old-fashioned three-point play, but that would be the last field goal by the Rams for more than four minutes as MSU would use a 14-2, thanks to 12 straight points, to regain a double-digit lead.

The Rams would do damage at the free throw line, however, over the next few minutes as they battled within five points, 41-36, with dunk by senior Shavar Burch with 2:17 left in the half. MSU would use a three-pointer by Michael Godwin to stop a 9-0 run by the Rams and ASU would add three late free throws to trail by just five points, 44-39, at the break. The Rams would commit 14 first-half turnovers while turned into 17 points by MSU.

Angelo State would own the early stages of the second half as the Rams limited MSU to just three field goals over the opening nine minutes of the period. ASU would use runs of eight and seven points to grab a nine-point advantage, 61-52, thanks to a put-back layup by sophomore Chris Ellis with 11:45 remaining. It would be just the second time this season that MSU had trailed in the second half. ASU extended lead to as many as 12 points, 65-53, on a fast-break layup by Webster off a Mustang turnover less than a minute later. The 12-point deficit would match the largest by the Mustangs this season.

The Rams would maintain a double-digit lead for the next several minutes before MSU would use four free throws by Chris Hagan to cut the advantage to eight points, 72-64, with 6:33 remaining. But, ASU would answer with a jumper by Ellis and an in-bounds layup by sophomore Stavon Williams to quickly regain a 12-point lead with 4:52 left. MSU would get as close as six points with just under two minutes to play thanks to a trey by Hagan, but the Rams would hit free throws down the stretch to ice the upset.

ASU shot 50.9 percent (28-of-55) for the game and made 26-of-35 shots (74%) from the free-throw line. Webster led five Rams in double figures as he scored 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting while adding six rebounds and a team-high six assists. Burch added 16 points, Williams had 15 points, junior LaMarshall Corbett had 13 points and senior Johnny Barnes had 12 points. Senior Antwon Williams pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

For the Mustangs, Anthony Moore led four MSU players in double figures as he hit 5-of-9 shots from the field. Adrian Van Buren came off the bench for 13 points while Charlie Logan and Craig Green each had 11 points. Logan and Moore each led the Mustangs with seven rebounds while Hagan dished a game-best seven assists. MSU shot 41 percent (26-of-63) from the floor, hitting 7-of-22 (32%) from three-point range, and shot 65 percent (17-of-26) from the free-throw line.

The Rams return to action Saturday night when the visit Tarleton State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at Wisdom Gym in Stephenville.