The Southwestern University men's basketball team out-shot and out-rebounded the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders on Tuesday (Jan. 2) evening in Belton, TX but came out on the losing end of a 72-66 non-conference contest.
UMHB scored first as both teams had just one field goal a piece in the first five minutes. The 3-3 tie was broken after a Mike Powell (Houston, TX/Episcopal HS) three-pointer at 14:56. SU built its lead as high as six on two occasions on baskets by Powell, the second of which came with 10:39 on the clock. The Crusaders then used a 13-0 scoring spurt to take a 23-16 lead. UMHB led by as many as 10 during the half and took a 35-28 lead in to the half.
Powell and Matt Caplan (Houston, TX/University of Kansas) combined to score 26 of Southwestern's 28 first half points. Both players scored 13 a piece in the half and sophomore Micah Salinas (San Antonio, TX/Highlands HS) scored the final two points of the half for SU on a pair of free throws.
Mary Hardin-Baylor held a solid lead during the first part of the second half and led by nine with 10:35 to play. The Pirates then went on a 12-0 run, capped by a Zach Bergstron (La Vernia, TX/La Vernia HS) three followed by a made free throw to regain the lead, 56-53. The Crusaders answered right back nine unanswered points to lead by six. SU tied the game at 62-62 with over two minutes to play and pulled as close as one in the final minute but could not quite catch the Crusaders.
Caplan led all players with 20 points on 6-17 shooting, including 4-8 from three-point range. The junior also recorded five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Powell finished the game with 15 points, a result of 6-8 shooting, and also added four assists for the Pirates.
Salinas pitched in with nine points and also recorded a block while senior Casey Gorder (San Antonio, TX/Texas Military Institute) led Southwestern with seven rebounds. Junior Goran Stojcic (Houston, TX/Stratford HS) was a perfect 2-2 from behind the three-point arc and also went 1-2 from the charity stripe for seven points.
Southwestern shot 43.4 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three-point range, connecting on 10-20 three-pointers. The Pirates made 23 field goals while UMHB made 21, nine of which were for three. SU also held a 33-31 advantage in rebounds while the Crusaders held the edge turnovers, forcing the Pirates to commit 18 while only committing 13 themselves. UMHB was 21-26 from the free throw line while SU was 10-13.
The Pirates return to Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Friday (Jan. 5) when they travel to Sherman, TX to face off against the Austin College Kangaroos at 8:00 p.m.
