BELTON, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball team dropped a close non-conference game to Sul Ross State University Thursday afternoon in Belton. The Cru was unable to convert a last-second shot, falling 83-80 to the Lobos. The win improved Sul Ross to 4-8 on the season while the Cru fell to 7-4 on the year.
 
Luke Feely opened the game with a jumper at 18:17 before the Lobos evened the contest at 17:57. Sul Ross scored six unanswered points from there to take an 8-2 lead with 16:05 left in the first. Sul Ross held a small lead on the Cru until Josiah Johnson scored six unanswered points to even the contest at 22. UMHB held the Lobos scoreless for more than five minutes at the end of the period, ending the first half on a 14-5 run.
 
UMHB shot 39.4 percent in the period, draining seven foul shots and scoring 14 points in the paint. The Cru forced six turnovers in the half with three steals. Sul Ross shot 44.8 percent in the first 20 minutes of action with 13 field goals and four three-pointers.
 
The second half played in a Cru advantage until the 7:07 mark when the Vince Peralez hit a shot to put the Lobos ahead by one. Kyle Wright fought back for the Cru, hitting back-to-back three pointers to even the game at 69. Sam Reaves drained a foul shot for a one-point Cru lead but the Lobos responded with a fast break jumper to grab another lead. The game played back and forth from there, going into the final minute with a 78-78 tie.
 
Luke Pluymen gave Sul Ross advantage with a three-pointer with 25 seconds left. Ty Prince made a layup with nine seconds left to cut the gap. UMHB pressed defensively but two foul shots from Trey Nelson sealed the win for the Lobos.
 
UMHB shot 50 percent in the second half with 15 field goals and five three-pointers. The Lobos shot 57.6 percent with 19 field goals and nine shots beyond the arc. Josiah Johnson led the Cru with 25 points, followed by Ty Prince with 16. Nathan Stolz added 10 points to the Cru's total while Johnson led the Cru with seven rebounds. UMHB forced 12 turnovers, led by Johnson with four steals. Ty Prince and Johnson each added four assists.
 
The Cru returns to action on Saturday, December 31^st in a 1 p.m. match against Nebraska Wesleyan at the Mayborn Campus Center in Belton.