WICHITA FALLS, Texas – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Men's Basketball was unable to hold on to a halftime lead Thursday, dropping a 70-62 decision at Midwestern State.

The Lions led 31-27 after the first 20 minutes of action, but the Mustangs scored 43 points in the second half on 53.3 percent shooting.

Midwestern State scored the first five points of the game, but the Lions got back-to-back baskets by forward Jaxon Ingram to spur a 10-3 run for a 10-8 lead with 12:42 left.

UAFS then led by as many as seven after a layup by guard Daryl McElrath before settling for the four-point lead at the break.

After forward Connor Slater started the scoring in the second half, the Mustangs tied the game at 33 with a 6-0 run. A three by guard Evan Anderson gave the Lions a 41-39 lead, but the Mustangs responded with an 11-0 run over the next three and a half minutes to take a 50-39 lead.

The Lions battled back to tie the game at 63-63, but the Mustangs went on another 6-0 run. UAFS pulled within three multiple times in the final minutes but were unable to regain the lead.

Guard Cameron Bush paced the Lions with 20 points, five rebounds and three assists. Slater and guard Payton Brown each added nine points, while Ingram chipped in six points with 10 rebounds. Forward David Ekezie tallied seven points and six boards off the bench.

UAFS won the battle on the boards, 36-27, and had 13 offensive rebounds for 16 second chance points. However, the Lions turned it over 11 times to just five for MSU as the Mustangs had a 14-2 edge in points off turnovers. MSU also had an 8-0 advantage in fast break points.

Next up for the Lions is a visit to Cameron at 3 p.m. Saturday.