RICHARDSON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball team erased a double-digit first half lead, but could not mount a similar comeback in the second half as the Cru fell to Sul Ross State 89-75 Tuesday in Richardson. The loss drops UMHB to 2-1 on the season while the Lobos even their record at 2-2 on the year with the victory.
 
Aedan Welch hit two big three-pointers to help key a run to open the second half as UMHB pulled to within three points on two occasions in the opening minutes. Kobe Richardson added a three-point to pull the Cru to within 49-47 six minutes into the second half. Sul Ross would answer each time. Another Richardson three-ball cut it to 55-53 and Welch added one from long-range to give UMHB it's first lead of the second half at 56-55 with 9:57 to go. The Cru held the lead before Sul Ross went on an 11-0 run to take a 69-61 lead with 5:33 remaining. The Lobo lead would grow to 11 by the final media timeout and UMHB would not get closer than nine points down the stretch.
 
The first half was back-and-forth through the early going with seven lead changes and two ties. The Lobos would go on an 18-5 run to open up a 37-24 lead with 2:15 remaining in the period. The Cru answered with three straight three-pointers from Richardson, Carson Hammond and Kyle Wright to close the gap to 39-33 at halftime. Wright had 11 points and Josiah Johnson added 10 in the first half as UMHB hit eight three-pointers. The Cru turned the ball over 10 times, leading to 11 Lobo points.
 
Welch had 18 points and hit 4-5 from beyond the arc for UMHB. Johnson added 18 points and 11 rebounds. Richardson added 15 points off the bench, hitting 5-6 three-pointers and Wright and Hammond chipped in 11 points apiece. The Cru hit 16-34 three-pointers on the day and shot 39 percent overall as a team. UMHB finished with 19 turnovers while forcing just 11.
 
Tristen Licon had a game-high 35 points to lead Sul Ross. Logan Dixon added 17 points and three other Lobos also reached double figures. SRSU shot 44 percent from the field as a team and shot twice as many free throws as the Cru. The Lobos were 20-22 from the line compared to 9-11 for UMHB. Sul Ross also won the rebounding battle 40-38.
 
The non-conference meeting was the first of three scheduled contests between the Cru and the Lobos this season. It also marked the first time UMHB head coach Clif Carroll faced off against his former team. Carroll spent five years coaching the Lobos before taking the UMHB job this spring.
 
The UMHB men return to action against UT Dallas on Thursday. The Cru and Comets are scheduled for a 3 pm tip-off in Richardson. Saturday's exhibition game at Sam Houston State has now been rescheduled for December 29^th at 6:30 pm in Huntsville.