LAS VEGAS, NV – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball team edged Pacific Lutheran University 56-53 on Wednesday night in Las Vegas. The Cru improved to 8-1 overall while the Lutes fell to a 7-4 record on the season.
 
Pacific Lutheran used an 8-2 run to open the contest. In the 11th minute, Josiah Johnson used a steal and a fast break to take UMHB's first lead 16-15. The Lutes fought back, creating a lead of nine with less than three minutes remaining in the half. The Cru used a quick eight-point run to close the gap, ending the half down 26-25.
 
The second half started off with back-and-forth action. Pacific Lutheran broke away with a 9-2 run with six minutes remaining in the contest, creating a 48-39 lead. The Cru chipped away with big baskets by Johnson, Gibson Hearne, D.J. Kane and Kyle Wright, taking a 53-51 lead. The Lutes took back the lead with a three-pointer in the final minute of play, but Johnson answered with a bucket behind the arc with 20 seconds remaining. Ty Prince sealed the 56-53 win with two baskets at the free throw line in the final seconds.
 
Johnson led the Cru with 15 points, while Prince had 13 and Kane added eight. Defensively, UMHB forced 24 turnovers with 13 steals, led by Hearne with four. Luke Feely had a team high of seven rebounds and Hearne added five.
 
UMHB returns to action for game two in the D3hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas on Thursday December 30th against Saint Mary's University at 6 p.m. (PT).