The Crusaders opened the game with a 14-1 run and led by as many as 16 points in the first half before a late AC run cut it to 36-27 Cru at halftime. UMHB then used a 15-2 run in the middle of the second half to put the game away and stretch the lead to 62-40. The Roos closed the game with a 10-1 run to cut the final margin to 13 points.
Brandon Gatlin led the Crusaders with 18 points and he added four assists and three steals. Patrick Oliver had 11 points and a game-high 17 rebounds for UMHB and Kevin Guyden came off the bench to add nine points. Kyle May led Austin College with 11 points and Anthony Holman also reached double figures with 10 points for the Roos. The Crusaders held AC to 33 per cent shooting and out rebounded the Roos 45-26. UMHB hit 44 per cent from the field and 47 per cent from three-point range in the victory.
The Crusaders will now return home for the 2005-06 home opener on Thursday night. The UMHB men will host Louisiana College for a 7:30 PM tip-off in the second half of a women’s-men’s doubleheader at the Mayborn Campus Center.