shanemeling@letu.edu
January 6, 2005
UMHB Streaks Past LETU, 80-67
LONGVIEW, TEXAS – In a game of runs, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men’s basketball team came out on top in an American Southwest Conference game at LeTourneau University on Thursday night, 80-67.
The visiting Crusaders (7-4, 5-3) held a 20-17 first half lead when they ran off nice consecutive points to take a 12-point lead with 3:36 left until halftime. The YellowJackets (2-8, 1-6) stormed back into the game with a 12-0 run to end the half that was capped by a buzzer beating jumper in the lane by freshman point guard Jonathan Collins.
The second half went back-and-forth with the teams trading buckets. With 5:40 remaining in the game a three-point play by LETU freshman forward Joe Packard cut the UMHB lead to three points. For the next two minutes neither team was able to score, but it was the ‘Jackets who had the best opportunities during that stretch. Three different players had open three-point attempts go in and out. Finally, with 3:32 left in regulation, the Crusaders 10-0 run that effectively finished off LeTourneau. UMHB point guard Brandon Gatlin made sure the ‘Jackets could not get back into the game by nailing 10-of-12 free throws, many in the final minutes of the game.
Despite shooting, 34.3 percent from the field and just 9-for-36 from behind the three-point line, the YellowJackets found themselves in position to win the game. Collins led the team with 15 points while senior Julius McClaskey and junior Travis Bankett added 12 and 11 points, respectively. Senior Jeremiah Bastian continued his strong play off the bench by hitting on 3-of-6 three-pointers and finishing with nine points and four rebounds. McClaskey led the team with seven rebounds and four assists.
The Crusaders were led by Michael Blaylock who scored 26 points off the bench while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out five assists. Gatlin added 20 points and five assists of his own. Overall, the Cru shot 52.5 percent from the floor, 60 percent in the second half. They out rebounded the YellowJackets by a 43-38 margin. UMHB committed 17 turnovers while LETU fumbled the ball away 19 times.
The ‘Jackets host Concordia University-Austin on Saturday afternoon at 3 o’clock in the Solheim Arena. The game can be heard online at www.tsrnsports.com.
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Mary Hardin-Baylor vs LeTourneau YellowJackets 01/06/05 7:30 at Longview, TX - Solheim Arena At Longview, TX - Solheim Arena MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR 80, LETOURNEAU YELLOWJACKETS 67 MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR (7-4, 5-3) Michael Blaylock 11-22 2-2 26; Brandon Gatlin 5-9 10-12 20; Corey Epps 3-3 0-0 6; Kevin Guyden 3-7 0-0 6; Adam Wiese 3-4 0-0 6; Ryan Burgart 3-6 0-0 6; Connor Kuykendall 2-4 0-0 5; Patrick Oliver 2-4 1-5 5; Jon Wible 0-0 0-0 0; Jimmy Carter 0-0 0-1 0; Matt Dickey 0-0 0-0 0; Richard Garrett 0-1 0-1 0; Justin Schwartz 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 32-61 13-21 80. LETOURNEAU YELLOWJACKETS (2-8, 1-6) Jonathan Collins 6-15 2-3 15; Julius McClaskey 4-18 4-4 12; Travis Bankett 4-9 2-5 11; Jeremiah Bastian 3-6 0-0 9; Daniel McGraner 2-6 0-0 6; Joe Packard 1-2 3-3 5; Joseph Richards 1-5 1-2 4; Brandon Morris 1-2 0-0 3; Tim Butler 1-4 0-1 2; Jacob Butler 0-0 0-0 0; Joseph Solomon 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-67 12-18 67. Mary Hardin-Baylor............ 29 51 - 80 LeTourneau YellowJackets...... 29 38 - 67 3-point goals-Mary Hardin-Baylor 3-11 (Michael Blaylock 2-6; Connor Kuykendall 1-2; Kevin Guyden 0-1; Adam Wiese 0-1; Richard Garrett 0-1), LeTourneau YellowJackets 9-36 (Jeremiah Bastian 3-6; Daniel McGraner 2-5; Jonathan Collins 1-7; Brandon Morris 1-2; Travis Bankett 1-4; Joseph Richards 1-3; Julius McClaskey 0-9). Fouled out--Mary Hardin-Baylor-None, LeTourneau YellowJackets-None. Rebounds-Mary Hardin-Baylor 43 (Michael Blaylock 6; Kevin Guyden 6), LeTourneau YellowJackets 38 (Julius McClaskey 7). Assists-Mary Hardin-Baylor 15 (Brandon Gatlin 5; Michael Blaylock 5), LeTourneau YellowJackets 14 (Julius McClaskey 4). Total fouls-Mary Hardin-Baylor 18, LeTourneau YellowJackets 18. A-175