UMHB couldn’t hold a late eight-point lead, then failed to capitalize on crucial scoring opportunities in overtime en route to an 89-85 men’s basketball loss to MC on Saturday afternoon at A.E. Wood Coliseum.
Up 77-69 with 4:50 left in regulation, the Crusaders (6-6 overall, 4-4 American Southwest Conference) were poised to defeat the Choctaws at Wood Coliseum for the first time since Jan. 4, 2003.
Then things started to unravel.
UMHB scored only one point in the remainder of the second half, and MC (9-3, 5-3) forced overtime on Bryan Johnson’s layup with 12 seconds left.
The Choctaws grabbed a five-point lead in the opening minute of the extra session before Jason Wagner hit a 3-pointer to cut the gap to 83-81 with 3:27 to go.
Still down 86-83, UMHB had its chances in the final 2 minutes but couldn’t convert.
Matt Caskey missed a jumper following an MC turnover before Wagner dropped in a pair of free throws after another Choctaws giveaway to trim the deficit to 86-85 with 1:23 remaining.
MC’s Richard Worthy couldn’t connect with 55 seconds left and Ervin Johnson grabbed the rebound to give the Crusaders a chance to take the lead.
It never materialized.
David Ray missed a layup with 30 seconds to go and, after Clarence Jeffery’s two free throws made it 88-85 with 28 seconds on the clock, Tim Lytle lost the handle on the ensuing inbound pass and was forced to foul.
Andre Coleman made one of two attempts at the line to seal it for the Choctaws, who held the Crusaders to eight points in the final 9:50 of the game.
Tilmon Gaddy scored a team-high 18 points for UMHB, which relinquished sole possession of second place in the ASC West Division and slipped into a tie with Concordia Texas - now three full games back of West-leading McMurry (8-4, 7-1).
Elmo Williams had 14 points for the Crusaders. Wagner finished with 11 and Michael Ivey added 10.
UMHB - 2-1 during its current five-game road stretch - will close the string of away games with matchups Thursday at Sul Ross State and Saturday at Howard Payne.
WOMEN
Mississippi College 61,
UMHB 45
Mary Hardin-Baylor’s shooting woes followed it across the Mississippi River, but this time the Lady Crusaders couldn’t overcome their inability to put the ball in the basket.
UMHB manufactured only two points in the first 8 minutes and never chased down Mississippi College, suffering a loss that dropped the Lady Crusaders from second place into a tie for third in the ASC West.
After shooting 29 percent during Thursday’s victory at Louisiana College, UMHB (6-6, 5-3) duplicated that offensive performance with an 18-of-61 effort from the floor.
The Lady Crusaders were 0-for-7 from 3-point range before halftime - when they trailed 24-19 - then went 1-for-11 from beyond the arc in the second half.
The Choctaws (11-2, 6-2), who took control with runs of 11-2 and 12-5 to open each half, shot 40 percent from the field and were 6-of-11 from long range.
Sophomore post Landie Thompson had 12 points and 11 rebounds and was the only player in double figures for UMHB, which will close its five-game road stretch with games at Sul Ross State on Thursday and at Howard Payne on Saturday.
