HOUSTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball team dropped an overtime decision to the University of St. Thomas (Texas) Friday afternoon in Houston. UMHB moved to 2-2 on the season while the Celts improved to 5-1 with the 90-82 victory.

St. Thomas opened the game with a three-pointer before Josiah Johnson mirrored that score at the 18:54 mark. The game played within one possession until the 14:29 mark when Eli Beard made a layup to give the Cru a five-point lead. The Celts responded with a pair of foul shots but Beard netted another layup and the ensuing free throw to give the Cru a 17-11 lead. St. Thomas cut the gap to one but UMHB held the high ground until 7:09 when Marion Williams hit the go-ahead three for the Celts. Ryan Pondant and Kyle Wright responded with back-to-back layups before Williams hit another three to put the Celts on top again.

Pondant hit another layup at 4:52 for a 30-29 lead before Wright made a jumper at 4:18 for a three-point margin. St. Thomas took its final lead of the half at the 3:21 mark before Jerry Day, Jr. hit a three-pointer to jump start an eight-point run ending in a 40-33 UMHB lead. UMHB held the high ground, going into halftime up 42-37.
UMHB shot 45.2 percent in the first half, led by Johnson with 10 points. Eli Beard added eight first-half points while a trio of athletes put up six points each.

St. Thomas opened the second half with eight unanswered points, taking a 44-42 lead at the 17:43 mark. The Celts held the lead and did not allow the Cru to get back on top until the 9:50 mark when Eli Beard hit a pair of foul shots for a 60-58 margin. The game played within four points from there with UMHB answering each Celts go-ahead shot to keep the game within one possession.

The Cru led 72-71 with 1:31 remaining in the contest before a jumper and ensuing foul shot gave the Celts a 74-72 lead with 1:19 to play. Payton Brooks responded, hitting a three-pointer with 54 seconds left for a 75-74 margin. Calvin Williams IV made a layup with 36 seconds left and hit the following free throw for a 77-75 lead. UMHB missed a following perimeter show but a diving rebound from Beard saved the possession and sent Johnson to the foul line with five seconds to play. Johnson hit both shots and the Celts missed their desperation attempt, sending the contest into overtime knotted at 77.

St. Thomas opened the overtime period with five unanswered points but the Cru fought back with a pair of foul shots and a three-pointer from Johnson, pulling the Cru within two points with 1:21 to play. Four made free throws from Angel Johnson and a pair of missed three-pointers by the Cru put the game at 88-82 with 19 seconds to play. Calvin Williams IV added two more points for the Celts, securing the 90-82 overtime win for St. Thomas.

Eli Beard led the Cru, scoring 24 points with eight field goals and five foul shots. Josiah Johnson added 23 points with a perfect 12-for-12 showing from the foul line. Jerry Day, Jr. and Ryan Pondant both added eight points for the Cru while four more Crusaders added to the total. UMHB shot 40 percent in the contest and 100 percent from the free throw line, making nine three-pointers.

Johnson and Pondant both led with nine rebounds as the Cru outrebounded the Celts 42-33 in the contest. Kyle Wright led the team with six assists and four blocks while Pondant and Connor Zamiara each added one block.
St. Thomas shot 45.5 percent in the contest, led by Nick Anderson with 27 total points. The Cents totaled 33 rebounds, 18 assists, eight steals and five blocks.  

UMHB returns to action on Tuesday, November 28^th in a 7:30 p.m. contest at Trinity University in San Antonio.