The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball team grabbed an early double-digit lead and used a stifling defensive effort to make it stand up as the Cru posted a 74-58 victory over Schreiner University Wednesday night in Kerrville. UMHB is now 1-0 to open the season. The Mountaineers are 0-1 on the year following the loss.
The Cru opened the game with an 18-8 run to push the lead into double figures. UMHB would lead by as many as 16 points in the opening half and held a 39-28 lead at halftime. The Cru scored the first eight points of the second half to stretch the lead to 19 points at 47-28. That lead would eventually grow to as many as 21 points and Schreiner never got closer than the final margin the rest of the way as UMHB cruised to the victory.
The Cru shot 48 percent in the first half and finished at 46 percent for the game. UMHB also hit 10-29 from three-point range and out rebounded Schreiner 42-33 in the victory. The Mountaineers were held to 33 percent shooting from the floor and hit just 4-29 three-pointers in the contest.
LaKendric Hyson led the Cru with 16 points in his first game at UMHB. Demarius Cress added 13 points and four assists. Justin Gammill had 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds in his first game in more than a year after missing all of last season with an injury. Eleven different players scored for UMHB in the win.
Blake Kelley was the only player in double figures for Schreiner with 14 points. He also grabbed a team-best eight rebounds. Nine players scored for the Mountaineers in the loss.
The UMHB men will now return home to open a three-game home stand. The Cru will host Texas Lutheran in a 7:30 PM start on Saturday in the home opener.
