The Cowboys held a 44-29 lead when James Peters hit a driving lay-up at the 18-minute mark of the second half. Southwestern went on a 25-8 run from the 15:35 mark to the 5:32 mark to take their only lead of the second half, 55-54.
After the Pirates took the lead Mardochee Jean took over the game for the Cowboys. He had a 3-point play on the next possession to give HSU the lead it would not relinquish.
On Jean’s free throw on the back end of the 3-point play, Southwestern was called for a pushing foul when the shot was in the air. Tanner Kudrna hit both free throws to give the Cowboys a five-point trip and a 59-55 lead.
Zach Pickelman hit a lay-up on an assist from Kudrna to make it 61-57 with 3:16 to play. Danny Franklin came right back for the Pirates and hit a 3-pointer to make it 61-60 with 2:56 to play. Pickelman then converted a 3-point play as he used his up-and-under play and was fouled. Robert Cates scored a lay-up and split a pair of free throws to set-up an exciting sequence to end the game.
HSU led 64-63 when senior Colby Hale hit one of two free throws with :29 to play. Southwestern set-up a play for Jamonn Little he went up and Jean came from the backside and swatted the attempted game-winner away. It was one of eight blocks for the sophomore center.
Pickelman led the way with 20 points and Jean had 17 points, seven rebounds and eight blocks. James Peters had 12 points, but his best effort was on the defensive end. He limited 2005 All-American and SCAC player of the year Aaron Bowser to four points on 2-of-8 shooting.
The Cowboys improved to 1-1 on the year and Southwestern fell to 1-2. HSU will return to action Saturday when it opens American Southwest Conference play at UT-Tyler with a 3 p.m. game.
Newspaper Box Score Southwestern vs Hardin-Simmons 11.22.05 7:30 p.m. at Abilene, Texas (Mabee Complex At Abilene, Texas (Mabee Complex HARDIN-SIMMONS 67, SOUTHWESTERN 63 SOUTHWESTERN (1-2) Danny Franklin 6-9 2-2 18; Robert Cates 3-7 6-10 12; Jamonn Little 3-11 2-2 9; Matt Caplan 2-3 3-4 9; Mike Powell 3-5 0-0 7; Casey Gorder 1-1 2-2 4; Aaron Bowser 2-8 0-2 4; Dan Slezak 0-1 0-0 0; Goran Stojcic 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-45 15-22 63. HARDIN-SIMMONS (1-1) Zach Pickelman 7-10 3-3 20; Mardochee Jean 8-12 1-4 17; James Peters 4-7 2-2 12; Tanner Kudrna 1-2 7-8 9; Rob Yeatts 1-3 0-1 2; Charlie Pannell 1-2 0-0 2; Donald Rohde 1-4 0-0 2; Marlon Washington 1-6 0-0 2; Colby Hale 0-1 1-2 1; Ricky Ovaitt 0-0 0-0 0; Matt Brackett 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 24-51 14-20 67. Southwestern 29 34 63 Hardin-Simmons 40 27 67 3-point goals-Southwestern 8-17 (Danny Franklin 4-6; Matt Caplan 2-2; Jamonn Little 1-3; Mike Powell 1-3; Dan Slezak 0-1; Aaron Bowser 0-2), Hardin-Simmons 5-17 (Zach Pickelman 3-4; James Peters 2-3; Tanner Kudrna 0-1; Rob Yeatts 0-2; Charlie Pannell 0-1; Marlon Washington 0-4; Colby Hale 0-1; Matt Brackett 0-1). Fouled out--Southwestern-None, Hardin-Simmons-None. Rebounds-Southwestern 33 (Jamonn Little 10), Hardin-Simmons 25 (Mardochee Jean 7). Assists-Southwestern 13 (Jamonn Little 7), Hardin-Simmons 20 (Tanner Kudrna 4). Total fouls-Southwestern 22, Hardin-Simmons 20. A-371 ID-358478