Abilene, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men’s basketball team could not overcome a cold shooting night and the Cru finally lost to a Division III team in a 76-66 loss to Hardin-Simmons University Thursday night in Abilene. The loss snaps UMHB’s eight-game winning streak and drops the fourth-ranked Cru to 11-2 overall and 8-1 in American Southwest Conference play on the season. The Cowboys improve to 6-7 overall and 5-4 in the ASC with the victory.

The first half was back-and-forth until the Cowboys used a late run to take a 41-30 lead at the break. A Steven Luckey three-point play gave HSU a 53-38 lead with 12:05 left in the game. UMHB fought back and a pair of David Ray free-throws pulled the Cru to within 66-61 with 2:00 to go. The Cru had three chances to cut the lead even more but turned the ball over each time and the Cowboys were able to ice the game from the free-throw line in the final minute.

The Cru shot just 36 per cent from the field, 23 per cent from three-point range and 61 per cent from the free-throw line. The Cowboys hit 45 per cent from the field, 37 per cent from beyond the arc and 79 per cent from the charity stripe. Hardin-Simmons also out rebounded UMHB 45-31 in the game and the Cru turned the ball over 18 times in the loss.

Tilmon Gaddy led the Cru with 20 points and eight rebounds and Ryan Burgart added 10 points for UMHB. Jason Wagner added nine points for the Cru and Neiman Ford came off the bench to score eight points. Hardin-Simmons was led by Mardochee Jean’s 15 points and 10 rebounds. Steven Luckey and Rob Yeatts added 12 points each for the Cowboys and Marcus Smith chipped in 10 points.

The UMHB men will look to bounce back with the finale of the Abilene road swing on Saturday. The Cru will take on McMurry University in a 3:00 PM tip-off on Saturday. UMHB will then return home to host Howard Payne University and McMurry University next week.

Abilene, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor women’s basketball team could not overcome a slow start and the Cru women fell to Hardin-Simmons 78-66 Thursday evening in Abilene. The UMHB women had their six-game winning streak snapped and fell to 8-5 overall and 6-3 in American Southwest Conference play with the loss. The Cowgirls improve to 11-2 overall and 8-1 in the ASC with the victory.

Hardin-Simmons opened the game with a 24-6 run and the Cowgirls led by 11 points at 30-19 with 7:45 left in the first half. The UMHB women then fought back and cut it to 32-27 with 2:58 remaining. The Cowgirls stretched it back to double digits with a 6-0 run, but UMHB cut it to 38-32 at halftime. The Cru women would be within five points again at 40-35 and it was six-point lead at 55-49 with 10:12 to go. HSU then went on a 19-4 run to take a 21-point lead and put the game away.

HSU shot 55 per cent from the field in the game and held the Cru women to 40 per cent shooting. UMHB also turned the ball over 22 times in the loss. Landie Thompson topped the Cru women with 15 points and Kallie White, Jessica Brogan and Kellie Thomas added nine points apiece for UMHB. Rachel Cisneroz scored a game-high 21 points for the Cowgirls to lead four players in double figures. Ashley Allen added 13, Erin Hohmann came off the bench to score 11 and Bo Warm added 10 points and nine assists for HSU.

The UMHB women will close out the swing through Abilene on Saturday. The Cru women will take on McMurry University in a 1:00 PM start. The UMHB women then return home to host Howard Payne and Sul Ross State next week.