News Release

Abilene, Tx.; — The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men’s basketball team fought back from a late deficit and the Cru edged Hardin-Simmons 75-72 Saturday afternoon in Abilene. The UMHB men finish the regular season at 21-4 overall and 17-4 in American Southwest Conference play with the victory. The Cru also clinches the West Division’s #1 seed to the ASC Championship Tournament with the win and the UMHB men are West Division Co-Champs for the first time in the program’s history. The loss drops the Cowboys to 14-11 overall and 14-7 in the ASC on the year.
Hardin-Simmons led 71-65 with 4:21 left in the game before the Cru put the clamps on the Cowboys. A Ryan Burgart lay-up and Kevin Guyden free-throw pulled the Cru to within 71-68 and Burgart added three more free throws to tie the game at 71. A Neiman Ford three-pointer gave UMHB a 74-71 lead with 1:58 remaining in the game. Mardochee Jean then hit one of two free throws for HSU to make it 74-72, but the Cowboys would not score again. Ford added a free-throw with 11 seconds left to make it 75-72 and Zach Pickelman missed a potential game-tying three-pointer in the final five seconds as the Cru posted the victory. UMHB led 43-36 at halftime after shooting 59 per cent in the first half.
Kevin Guyden led UMHB with 22 points and Ford added 18 points for the Cru. Matt Dickey had 11 points and five assists for UMHB and eight different players scored. Zach Pickelman had a game-high 31 to lead the Cowboys and Dan Jean came off the bench to add 14 more. Mardochee Jean had a double-double for HSU with 11 points and 10 rebounds. UMHB shot 51 per cent from the field and the Cowboys shot just 45 per cent from the field in the game.
The Cru will now advance to the ASC Championship Tournament next weekend in Clinton, Mississippi. The UMHB men are the #1 seed from the ASC West Division and will open the tournament at noon on Friday against East Division #4 seed Louisiana College.