After a rough start followed by a three-week break from competition, UMHB will take on Lake Forest (Ill.) at 8 p.m. today in the first round of the Cru Holiday Classic at Mayborn Campus Center.
The third annual edition of the four-team event also features a first-round matchup between Wisconsin-Whitewater and LeTourneau at 6 today. Tonight’s winners will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the championship game, which will be preceded by the third-place game at 3.
After dropping their first two games, the Crusaders (2-4) are 2-2 in their last four - a stretch that includes a 60-47 loss to LeTourneau on Dec. 8.
UMHB, which is 4-0 all-time in the Holiday Classic, is led by 6-6 senior wing Tilmon Gaddy (15.3 points, 8.8 rebounds) and should benefit from the addition of two players since it last played.
Elmo Williams, a 6-1 senior guard who started his career at Abilene Christian, and Ervin Johnson - a 6-6 junior forward who spent the fall as a wide receiver on the football team - are expected to be in uniform for the first time tonight.
The Foresters (1-6), who have dropped four straight and haven’t played since Dec. 9, are paced by 6-foot junior forward Victor Campbell (11.1 points) and 6-3 junior forward Patrick Hanley (10.0).
Today’s first game will pit a pair of one-loss teams against each other.
Sixth-ranked UW-W (9-1) has won three straight after suffering an overtime loss at Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The Warhawks average 80 points per game behind three players who average double-digit point production in 6-3 senior guard Myles McKay (19.5) - a 40-percent shooter from long range - 6-1 senior guard Matt Goodwin (15.0) and 6-6 senior forward Kori Vernon (11.6).
LeTourneau (5-1) is riding a five-game winning streak after a season-opening loss to Ouachita Baptist. The Yellow Jackets are fueled by 6-6 junior guard Dale Vanwright (20.3) and 5-10 junior guard JJ Rockmore (15.2).
