Presser | Highlights

ABILENE, Texas - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball team defeated Hardin-Simmons University 76-69 in the American Southwest Conference Semifinals Friday night in Abilene. The Cru improved to 17-9 on the season and will advance to the ASC Championship match.
 
The Cowboys were first to score with a three-pointer from Will Bartoszek. UMHB responded with seven unanswered points to take the lead at the 17:17 mark. The Cowboys cut the gap to one at the 12:37 mark before a Josiah Johnson jumper sparked a 7-2 run for the Cru.
 
UMHB continued pushing forward, going on a 14-3 run in the final seven minutes. Bartoszek hit a shot behind the arc at the buzzer to close the half but UMHB kept the lead 38-28. The Cru outshot the Cowboys 46.9 percent to 30.3 percent in first half of action, scoring 26 points in the paint.
 
The second half played even until the 17:03 mark when the Cowboys' Austin Brewer scored eight unanswered points to cut the gap 42-41. Eli Beard added two foul shots to expand the margin, but the Cowboys quickly took a 45-44 lead with a duo of baskets at the 14:18 mark.
 
A Ryan Pondant layup put the Cru back ahead, but Hardin-Simmons responded with a three-pointer to go back up by two. The Cowboys continued on a 7-2 run to go ahead 55-49. UMHB slowly chipped away at the gap, taking the lead with a duo of Payton Brooks layups and free throws with 8:13 left to play.
 
Zachary Engels scored eight points to help the Cru expand their lead to five at the 4:20 mark. Eli Beard added two more on a layup before Bartoszek sunk four free throws to cut the gap to three with 2:17 remaining.

Engels added a trio of foul shots in the final minute to go up 73-67. Hardin-Simmons added a quick layup with 0:19 on the clock to cut the gap to four. Engles and Johnson added three more points on free throws in the last 15 seconds to secure the 76-69 victory.
 
Beard led the Cru with 18 points followed by Johnson and Engels with 14 each. Johnson recorded a double-double on the night also adding 11 rebounds. UMHB shot 44.3 percent with 36 points in the paint and 12 points off turnovers.

"Really proud of my guys," said Head Coach Clif Carroll. "It was a really tough game ... for us to step up and come back was really good ... [tomorrow] will be a lot of fun to play and we are going to have to battle it out."
 
UMHB returns to action Saturday, February 24^th in a 6:00 p.m. championship match against UT Dallas in Abilene.