And while total redemption wasn’t delivered Saturday afternoon - the Crusaders still are staring at a likely No. 2 seed - there was a certain amount of retribution in their flogging of the Mountaineers.
UMHB flattened Schreiner in the opening minutes and never let the Mountaineers off the mat at Mayborn Campus Center, pulling away for a 101-63 win that stands as the Crusaders’ largest margin of victory since the first week of 2007.
It was quite a change from UMHB’s 74-72 loss to Schreiner on Jan. 24 in Kerrville, though the Crusaders (16-7 overall, 14-5 American Southwest Conference) wouldn’t undeniably admit that atonement was on their mind.
“I told them the other day in practice that I don’t believe in retribution or anything like that once the game starts. Of course I finished by saying, ‘But I want revenge,’” UMHB coach Ken DeWeese said half-jokingly.
“I told them that I really like this but that I’m having a hard time accepting it because of the fact that we lost to them in a game we should have won, and it has affected us in the standings and rankings,” he added in a more serious tone. “This just points out that I was correct when I was mad at them after we got beat.”
This one was a lopsided beating from the get-go.
The Crusaders led 27-7 less than 10 minutes in. The gap was never less than 19 the rest of the first half. And after Zane Johnston pump-faked, then ducked a flying defender before draining a 3-pointer at the 18:09 mark of the second half, the Mountaineers (6-17, 6-13) trailed by at least 30 the rest of the way.
David Ray’s thunderous dunk on an alley-oop pass from Elmo Williams six minutes later frenzied the fans, who pleaded for 100 points down the stretch.
They were rewarded when freshman reserve post Sheldon Jones banked in a short jumper with 53 seconds remaining.
It was UMHB’s first 100-point showing since a double-overtime victory against Concordia Texas on Jan. 8 of last season and its largest margin of victory since a 90-56 whipping of Ozarks (Ark.) on Jan. 6, 2007.
“After the way we played earlier in the season, just the fact that we’re playing hard and playing good is exciting to me,” said DeWeese, whose team has won seven straight and 10 of its last 11. “Whether we’re peaking, I don’t know that. I think we can still get better. I think we’re still going up. And we’ve been going uphill all season, so that’s no different for us.”
Part of the reason for the Crusaders’ improved play was on evident display Saturday, when senior guard Williams and junior forward Ervin Johnson - two players who didn’t join the team until after Christmas - played prominent roles.
Williams dished out eight assists to just two turnovers and had three steals to go with eight points, consistently hitting teammates in scoring position who didn’t even appear to be open.
“All I needed was a little time to play with (my teammates),” Williams said. “We’re coming together at the perfect time. With the conference tournament coming up, I’m getting more than kind of comfortable with my teammates. I’m really comfortable with them.”
Added DeWeese: “His vision and the way he plays is very similar to some of the best guards I’ve ever coached - big-time guys who were drafted by NBA teams. What makes him hard to guard is that he’s so quick on the dribble and still is able to see the floor, see his teammates and recognize situations.”
Johnson, a Temple College transfer, came off the bench and was active immediately, wreaking a type of havoc against Schreiner defenders that he hadn’t against other opponents.
He had team-highs of 19 points and nine rebounds in only 16 minutes of action.
“Coach has been pushing me a lot because he expects a lot out of me. And I appreciate him waiting on me and having patience with me,” said Johnson, who also is a starting wide receiver on UMHB’s football team. “Every time I come off the bench, they say, ‘Be active. We need a spark.’ That’s what I tried to do today, and that’s what I’ll keep trying to do.”
Jason Wagner was 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and had 16 points, and Tilmon Gaddy added 11. The Crusaders shot 51 percent from the field and 50 percent from long range.
The Mountaineers shot just 38 percent, getting 20 points from Ralph Turner and 12 from Riley Battle. They were outrebounded 48-26.
“After losing to them before, we needed this - more than anything - to show that we can play like this,” DeWeese said. “I’m very pleased with the way we played, and I can still see areas where we need to improve.”
edrennan@temple-telegram.com
