The Crusaders led by four points at halftime and opened the second half with a 10-0 run to take a 45-31 lead. Sul Ross State would cut it to four points on five occasions, but UMHB managed to answer each time. The Lobos finally tied the game again at 57 with 9:23 remaining, but UMHB got a free throw and a bucket from Jimmy Carter to stretch it to a three-point Crusader lead. There would be four more ties before Patrick Oliver’s lay-up put UMHB on top 68-66 with 3:51 to go. Arturo Escobar nailed a three-pointer to give the Lobos a 69-68 edge with 3:24 left in the game. C.J. Acosta sandwiched a pair of baskets around a Neiman Ford lay-in to make it 73-70 Sul Ross with 48 seconds on the clock. Sidney Hooper hit a pair of free throws to make it 75-70, but Justin Schwartz hit a three-pointer with six seconds remaining to pull UMHB to within 75-73. The Crusaders fouled Hooper with three seconds left and he hit both free throws to provide the final margin.
Patrick Oliver led UMHB with 20 points and seven rebounds. Carter came off the bench to add 14 points and Ryan Burgart had 12 points for the Crusaders. UMHB out rebounded Sul Ross State 49-31 and shot 47 per cent from the field while holding the Lobos to 34 per cent shooting. However, Sul Ross State hit 10-45 from three-point range while UMHB went just 4-13 from long-range. Sul Ross also went 21-28 from the free-throw line while UMHB was 15-20 from the stripe. Hooper led Sul Ross State with 30 points and Acosta added 16 points and seven rebounds. Arturo Escobar chipped in with 13 points for the Lobos.
The UMHB men will continue their road trip at first-place Howard Payne University Saturday in Brownwood. The Crusaders and Yellow Jackets will tip off at 3:00 PM. Sul Ross State will host Concordia University for a 3:00 PM start on Saturday.