Tilmon Gaddy continued his torrid play with 21 points and UMHB held Louisiana College to only five field goals in the second half en route to a 74-53 victory Thursday night at H.O. West Fieldhouse.
The Crusaders (6-5 overall, 4-3 American Southwest Conference), who won 92-77 at Concordia Texas on Monday, are 2-0 to start a stretch of five straight road games. They are in sole possession of second place in the ASC West Division - two games behind McMurry (7-4, 6-1) - heading into Saturday’s matchup at East foe Mississippi College (8-3, 4-3).
Gaddy - a senior wing from Harker Heights who is averaging 23 points in the last four games - scored 13 of his 21 in the first 20 minutes to help UMHB build a 39-27 halftime lead. He finished the night with 10 rebounds, four assists and a steal.
The Crusaders were 16-of-28 from the field before intermission and shot 47 percent for the game.
The Wildcats (3-8, 1-6) shot a dismal 23 percent in the second half and trailed by as many as 27 points. They were outrebounded 43-23.
Senior guard Elmo Williams scored 12 points for UMHB. He hit a 3-pointer and a mid-range jumper in a 31-second span to give the Crusaders their largest lead of the first half at 39-22.
Josh Johnson had a team-high 11 points and JeLani Mitchell added 10 for LC, which held its only lead at 2-0 before Gaddy scored the game’s next six points to push UMHB out front for good.
Following Saturday’s clash with the Choctaws, the Crusaders will finish out their stretch of five straight on the road with games next week at Sul Ross State on Thursday and Howard Payne on Jan. 17.
UMHB will face West-leading McMurry twice in a span of eight days when they square off Jan. 29 at Mayborn Campus Center in Belton and Feb. 5 at Kimbrell Arena in Abilene.
WOMEN
UMHB 47, Louisiana College 43
UMHB got defensive, holding off Louisiana College for a victory that helped the Lady Crusaders keep pace with the ASC West front-runners.
After falling Monday at Concordia Texas to open a five-game road stretch, UMHB (6-5, 5-2) got back on track and remains tied with McMurry (8-3, 5-2) for second place in the West - two victories behind defending national champion Howard Payne (11-2, 7-2).
The Lady Crusaders, who shot just 30 percent for the night, had to rally after the Wildcats (7-4, 3-4) shot 50 percent in the first half and led 28-18 at intermission.
UMHB opened the second half with a 13-1 run to move out front 31-29 and never trailed again as LC cooled off with a 5-of-37 shooting effort after the break.
Junior wing Kallie White and sophomore post Landie Thompson scored 10 points apiece for the Lady Crusaders, held a 45-32 rebounding advantage. Thompson grabbed 13 boards.
Krystle Hunter had 16 points and Christy Pantallion added 14 and 11 rebounds for LC.
UMHB will remain on the road to face Mississippi College (10-2, 5-2) on Saturday afternoon in Clinton, Miss.
