TLU led 68-65 with 1:54 remaining in the game before Brandon Gatlin’s lay-up and Adam Wiese’s put back gave UMHB a 69-68 lead with 53 seconds left. Matt Nelson hit a basket to put TLU back on top at 70-69 with 35 to go. UMHB had two chances to retake the lead, but missed one shot before Gatlin was fouled on the second. He missed the first free throw but hit the second to tie the game at 70 with eight seconds remaining. Summers then took the inbounds pass and drilled the game-winner from just outside the arc as the buzzer sounded.
Texas Lutheran shot 59 per cent from the field in the first half and led by as many as 12 points in the second half before UMHB started the chip. The Bulldogs finished the game at 59 per cent from the field and 53 per cent from three-point range. UMHB shot 46 per cent from the floor and 28 per cent from long range. TLU also out rebounded the Crusaders 32-27, but UMHB turned the ball over just five times in the game.
Jimmy Smith and Brandon Gatlin led UMHB with 16 points apiece. Justin Hejl added 13 points and 10 boards for the Crusaders and Ray Whitlock had 11, with nine of those coming in the first half. Tommy Stolhandske led the Bulldogs with 16 points and 11 rebounds and Summers had 15 points on 7-10 shooting. Jerrod Carpenter came off the bench to add 14 points for TLU.
UMHB will hit the road for a two-game ASC West Division swing next week. The Crusaders will play a 7:30 PM tip-off at Howard Payne on Thursday before traveling to Alpine for a 3:00 PM start at Sul Ross State on Saturday. Texas Lutheran will host McMurry and Hardin-Simmons next week.