The Crusaders entered the ASC tournament streaking with four straight wins including wins last week over McMurry and Hardin-Simmons, the top two seeds from the West Division.
UMHB jumped out to a 12-4 lead early but watched MC go on a 16-2 run to take control of the game leading 20-14. The Crusaders battled back to take a 21-20 lead only to watch MC end the half on an 11-2 run to lead 31-23 at the half.
In the second half MC controlled the game and built a 60-39 lead with 2:40 remaining. UMHB scored the game's final six points for the 60-45 final.
Sophomore guard Jaszmine Eugene came off the bench to spark the team with 15 points, The New Orleans native was 5-11 from the field and 5-5 from the free throw line. Cedric Armstrong connected on 5-7 shots for 12 points.
UMHB was led by Brandon Gatlin who finished with 16 points and four rebounds. No other Crusader scored in double figures.
The Choctaws shot 44 percent from the field and held UMHB to a 26 percent shooting night.
The Choctaws advance to play the winner tonight's Hardin-Simmons vs. Ozarks game. Game time tomorrow is 4:00 p.m.
Newspaper Box Score UMHB vs MC 02/25/05 6:00 at Clinton, MS At Clinton, MS MC 60, UMHB 45 UMHB (17-9 (15-8 ASC)) Brandon Gatlin 4-13 8-10 16; Kevin Guyden 3-6 2-2 9; Michael Blaylock 3-8 0-0 6; Matt Dickey 1-2 1-2 3; Adam Wiese 1-5 0-0 3; Ryan Burgart 0-2 2-2 2; Richard Garrett 1-1 0-0 2; Patrick Oliver 1-8 0-0 2; Jimmy Carter 0-4 2-2 2; Justin Schwartz 0-3 0-0 0; Connor Kuykendall 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 14-53 15-18 45. MC (22-3 (20-3 ASC)) Jaszmine Eugene 5-11 5-5 15; Cedric Armstrong 5-7 1-2 12; Shederick Kirk 1-3 4-4 6; Orlando Lewis 2-7 0-0 5; Jason Walker 2-5 0-1 5; Lonnie Vasquez 2-6 0-0 5; Tyler Winford 1-3 2-2 4; Willie Powers 2-2 0-0 4; Marcus Evans 0-1 2-2 2; David Doty 1-2 0-1 2; Jimmy Johns 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-48 14-17 60. UMHB.......................... 23 22 - 45 MC............................ 31 29 - 60 3-point goals-UMHB 2-14 (Kevin Guyden 1-1; Adam Wiese 1-2; Patrick Oliver 0-1; Jimmy Carter 0-3; Justin Schwartz 0-1; Connor Kuykendall 0-1; Michael Blaylock 0-2; Brandon Gatlin 0-3), MC 4-16 (Lonnie Vasquez 1-5; Jason Walker 1-3; Orlando Lewis 1-3; Cedric Armstrong 1-2; David Doty 0-1; Jimmy Johns 0-1; Shederick Kirk 0-1). Fouled out--UMHB-None, MC-None. Rebounds-UMHB 34 (Jimmy Carter 6), MC 37 (Orlando Lewis 5; Lonnie Vasquez 5). Assists-UMHB 5 (Kevin Guyden 1; Michael Blaylock 1; Adam Wiese 1; Brandon Gatlin 1; Patrick Oliver 1), MC 8 (Jason Walker 4). Total fouls-UMHB 16, MC 15. A-954