News Release

Belton, Tx. — The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men’s basketball team scored the game’s first points and never looked back, although the Crusaders did have to hold off a late McMurry charge to post a 78-70 victory over the Indians Thursday night in Abilene. The UMHB men win their third straight to improve to 16-8 overall and 14-7 in American Southwest Conference play. The Crusaders have also clinched a berth in the ASC Championship Tournament next weekend and have now won four straight games against McMurry. The loss drops McMurry to 17-7 overall and 16-5 in the ASC and also drops the Indians into a tie for first place in the ASC West with Hardin-Simmons University.
UMHB opened the scoring and then never trailed again, opening up a 44-37 halftime lead after shooting 59 per cent from the field in the first half. McMurry charged back late and pulled to within three points at 69-66 with 4:46 left to play but the Crusaders were able to ice the game from the free-throw line.
Brandon Gatlin led UMHB with 30 points on 9-13 shooting from the field and 9-9 from the free-throw line. Gatlin scored 17 of his points in the first half. Kevin Guyden was the only other Crusader in double figures with 10 points but three different players scored eight points apiece for UMHB. Michael Qualls came off the bench to lead McMurry with 18 points and Cole Dickerson had 16 for the Indians. Travis Tennison added 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for the Tribe. UMHB shot 56 per cent from the field in the game and went 12-15 from the line. McMurry shot 44 per cent from the field and only hit 8-17 from the free-throw line.
The Crusaders will close out the regular season with a 3:00 PM tip-off at Hardin-Simmons University on Saturday. The UMHB men will then be the fourth seed from the ASC West Division at the league’s Championship Tournament next week. The Crusaders will face East Division champion and tournament host Mississippi College in a first-round game next Friday evening in Clinton, Mississippi.