Sul Ross scored the first six points of the game and led by 10 points with 1:38 left in the first half. UMHB then went on a 10-0 run to tie it with 23 seconds left in the half. Chris Packer’s jumper at the buzzer gave the Lobos a 48-46 lead after a first half that featured six ties and six lead changes. UMHB grabbed a 56-55 lead with 16:39 left in the game and the Crusaders would not trail again. UMHB used a 16-6 run to push the lead to 11 and led by as many as 16 points before a late Sul Ross charge cut it to 97-91 with 59 seconds to go. UMHB iced the game from the free-throw line and would lead by 12 points before Derric Workman’s lay-up with 15 seconds left provided the final margin. UMHB finished the game 38-50 from the free-throw line and the Crusaders shot 48 per cent from the field in the victory. Sul Ross State was 10-14 from the stripe and shot 50 per cent from the floor, but just 29 per cent from three-point range.
Brandon Gatlin led UMHB with 23 points and he added five assists. Gatlin was 13-18 from the free-throw line. Justin Hejl added 22 points and 10 rebounds and is now just 12 points away from becoming just the 11th Crusader to score 1,000 career points. Michael Blaylock also scored 22 for the Crusaders and he hit 5-8 from three-point range. Jimmy Smith came off the bench to add 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists for UMHB. Chris Packer led Sul Ross State with 17 points and Derric Workman added 14 more. Sidney Hooper had 13 points and Rockland Owens added a double-double off the bench with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Justin Steward also reached double figures with 10 points for the Lobos.
UMHB will continue its home stand with a 7:30 PM tip-off against Concordia University Tuesday night. The Crusaders will then host Hardin-Simmons on Thursday and McMurry on Saturday.