Crusaders edge closer to West Division title

The men’s basketball team continued its quest to earn the No. 1 seed in the American Southwest Conference by winning its last five matchups. 

A recap of the previous four played at home would show how the Cru dominated offensively and defensively, improving its home record to 22 consecutive wins.

But what is driving the team’s success?

Is it skill and athleticism? Is it the speed of sophomore guard Zane Johnston? The 6-foot-10 and 6-foot-5 posts Ryan Burgart’s and Michael Ivey’s presence at the basket? Or, is it the double-digit scoring junior wing Tilmon Gaddy and guard Jason Wagner?

Some say it’s the leadership of Head Coach Ken DeWeese.

After posting a blow-out win against Schreiner University, 71-42, he kept the team grounded in a post-game chat. He said he tries to keep the team focused, “no matter how hoakey they may think I sound”, not so they win tomorrow, but can be winners in later years.

“I am always talking to the guys about what we do in the course of a basketball season and what a person does in the course of his four-year college career is just a microcosm of what they are going to face the rest if their lives,” he said.

DeWeese said that what they face as a team or individually with each other is the way one goes through life.
“How you deal with adversity has a great deal of impact on what type of success you are going to enjoy. Anyone can do well during good times,” he said. “It’s the people who can do well in the face of adversity and continue to be successful that are unusual and who are the leaders. ”

It is this mind set, and his 39 years of coaching experience  that catches the attention of potential players and leaves a lasting impression on other conference teams.

Gaddy is in his first season at UMHB after transferring from Midwestern State University.

“My friend Valentino goes to Concordia. He got me to come here. He told me how good the school was,” he said. “I heard a lot about Coach DeWeese and how good of a coach he was. And, I am close to home. That was important to me.”

Gaddy grew up down the road in Killeen.

While all these points are factors to the team’s success, it’s the synergy on and off the court that  makes the Crusaders so dynamic.

“We are all close. We all talk; we go out and do everything together. There is great camaraderie,” Gaddy said.

Individually, they have produced on the court, including Gaddy who has been posting career highs in scoring.

“I just do what I can; it’s not something I strive for every game. With our team anyone can score that many points, (the ball) just happened to fall into my hands most of the time,” he said. 

Combined however, their effect is greater than the sum of their separate parts. In the ASC, the men have the highest winning streak, and are on top of the leader board with a winning percentage of .857. They are second overall in scoring with a margin of +9.4 and first in rebounding with a margin of +7.1.

Last weekend’s game against Texas Lutheran tested the squad’s skills and cohesiveness. The score remained close during the first period. But, at start of the second half, TLU exploded on the floor and opened up an 11-point lead while leaving the Cru scoreless for almost five minutes until junior guard David Ray hit a basket on a free throw.

In the final 20 seconds  senior guard Neiman Ford connected with a 3-pointer, tying the game 54-54 and sending it into overtime. The matchup appeared to be headed for a second overtime. It was tied at 60 points with 14 seconds remaining until Ford hit a jumper with three seconds left on the clock and lifted the team to a 62-60 victory.

Going into Saturday, Jon Wallin, director of sports communication said, “We need to win a 2-2 combination” to clinch the title. HSU and Concordia are tied for the second seed. All three won their weekend matchups, but with a four- game lead and only four left in league play, the Cru are one game closer.

The men will be on the road until Feb. 21 when they return home to host the Cowboys before playing their final regular season game Feb. 23 against last year’s co-champions, McMurray University.