Abram Choate, SID
BROWNWOOD, Texas – Great 3-point shooting off the bench for the Yellow Jackets leads to a 79-71 win over the Crusaders of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in the Brownwood Coliseum on Saturday.
Both teams played close in the starting minutes of the game before UMHB took a small lead 14-11 at 14:22 in the first. HPU regained the lead, 14-13 at 12:30 on a lay-up by Jr. F Sean Wheeler(Lake View HS). UMHB took back the lead at 6:33 in the first, and extended it to 31-25. The Jackets retook the lead 33-31 at 2:46 on a 3-point play by Wheeler. The Yellow Jackets held the lead and went into the locker room with a 38-35 lead. HPU shot 50 % from the field and 66.7% from the 3-point line in the first half.
UMHB tied the game at 38 at the start of the second half and then push their lead to 5 (43-38) at 16:45 to play in the game. HPU regains the lead 51-47 sparked by the 3-point of Jr. G Josh Weatherred(Clarendon JC). UMHB's 3-point shooting rallied the Crusaders to a 5 point lead with 5:15 to play. The Yellow Jackets chipped away to take the lead 68-67 on a lay-up by Jr. G Kendrick Johnson(Willowridge HS) with 2:46 to play. Sean Wheeler's dunk with :44 seconds remaining in the game gave HPU a 76-68 lead. The Yellow Jackets win 79-71.
Kendrick Johnson led all scorers with 22 and nine rebounds. Sean Wheeler had a double-double on the night with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Josh Weatherred's and So. G Lee Scott's(Snyder HS) 3-point shooting off the bench was huge as both combined for 7 of 10 from behind the arc and 12 points apiece. Sr. C Cliff McGuire(Haskell HS) also scored 10 points with eight rebounds.
UMHB was led by Justin Schwartz's double-double, 17 points and ten rebounds. Kevin Guyden and Patrick Oliver scored 17 and 11 respectively.
The Yellow Jackets will be on the road this Thursday against McMurry University in Abilene at 7:30pm.
