BELTON, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men’s basketball team used clutch free-throw shooting to send the game to overtime and the Cru was able to create separation in the final minute of overtime in a 90-84 overtime win over Wayland Baptist Tuesday night in Belton. The game was an exhibition and does not count in UMHB’s record. The Pioneers, an NAIA program, did count the contest as a regular game and drop to 8-4 on the season with the loss.
UMHB led by six points midway through the second half before Wayland Baptist took a 75-74 lead with nine seconds left. The Cru would draw a foul on its last possession and Shaqur Martin hit a free-throw to tie the game at 75 and send it to overtime. Martin’s three-pointer gave UMHB a quick lead in overtime and the Pioneers never got closer than two points the rest of the way as the Cru was able to ice the game from the free-throw stripe.
Brian Long led UMHB with 19 points and Sam Moore and LaKendric Hyson had 17 points apiece. Martin and Demarius Cress had 11 points each and Aedan Welch provided a spark off the bench with eight key points. Byrale Carter led the Cru with nine rebounds, Martin blocked four shots and Cress had a team-best five assists. UMHB shot 43 percent from the field and went 6-23 from the three-point line.
Josh Throns had 20 points to lead Wayland Baptist. Trevonta Robertson had 15 points and eight rebounds and J.J. Culver added 14 points. The Pioneers shot 42 percent from the field and were 11-31 from beyond the arc.
The Cru will now have a 10-day break from games. UMHB returns to action with the Cru Classic on December 28-29th. Four teams will participate with games at 3 pm and 5 pm each day.
