UMHB opened the game with a 22-8 run before Hardin-Simmons closed to within seven points at 24-17. The Crusaders closed the first half with a rush to take a 32-20 halftime lead. UMHB dominated the early part of the second half and pushed the lead to 53-29 with 13:11 remaining. The Cowboys would not close the gap to less than 14 points the rest of the way. UMHB out rebounded the Cowboys 40-31 and shot 53 per cent from the field. The Crusaders also hit 63 per cent from three-point range and held HSU to 36 per cent shooting from the field.
Kevin Guyden led UMHB with a career-high 28 points and he also added eight rebounds and three assists. Justin Schwartz had 12 points and 10 rebounds, Ryan Burgart added 10 points and Tim Lytle came off the bench to score 10 points for UMHB. Mardochee Jean led HSU with 17 points and nine rebounds and Tanner Kudrna added 15 points. Zach Pickelman added 14 for the Cowboys.
The Crusaders will close out the regular season with a 3:00 PM tip-off against McMurry University on Saturday. UMHB will then advance to the ASC Championship Tournament next weekend at either Howard Payne University or McMurry University.