MBB tops HSU to advance to ASC Championship Game

03/01/08

 Tilmon Gaddy drives to the basket in UMHB's semifinal win over Hardin-Simmons

Belton, TX - The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball team almost let a double-digit lead slip away but the Cru held on for a 60-55 victory over Hardin-Simmons University in an American Southwest Conference Championship Tournament semifinal game. The UMHB men improve to 24-3 overall and set a new school record for victories in a single season with the win. The Cru will now advance to the ASC Championship Game for the first time in school history and will take on Concordia Texas in a 2:00 PM start tomorrow. The loss ends the Cowboys season at 15-12 on the year.

UMHB opened the game with an 11-2 run and led by as many as 14 points in the first half before a late HSU run cut it to 33-26 at halftime. The Cru pushed the lead back to double figures at 47-37 with 9:58 remaining, but the Cowboys used a 15-4 run to take a 52-51 lead with 5:06 left. The two teams would trade points until Matt Caskey hit a free-throw to give the Cru a 56-55 lead with 2:14 to go. The Cowboys would not score the rest of the way and UMHB got a pair of free-throws from both Tilmon Gaddy and Neiman Ford to ice the win.

Tilmon Gaddy led the Cru with 14 points and Neiman Ford added 13 points. David Ray added 12 points and Matt Caskey chipped in 10 points for UMHB. Ryan Burgart had a team-high seven rebounds and blocked three shots for the Cru. Mardochee Jean and Rob Yeatts had 13 points apiece for the Cowboys. Jean added eight rebounds and three blocked shots before fouling out with 2:14 left in the game.

UMHB shot 59 per cent from the field in the first half and 45 per cent for the game. The Cowboys shot 39 per cent from the field and 37 per cent from three-point range. HSU also out rebounded UMHB 33-27, but the Cru turned the ball over just eight times in the game.