ABILENE, Texas — Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team moved into a three-way tie in the American Southwest Conference West Division with a 78-59 win over Mary Hardin-Baylor in ASC action at the Mabee Complex on Thursday evening.

The Cowboys used a 23-6 run over the last eight minutes of the first half to take control of the game. UMHB led 21-012 on a Brian Todd layup at the 8:00 mark. HSU's talented freshman class scored 15 of the 23 points in the run before halftime. Derrick Jefferson scored the last six points of the half.

In the second half, UMHB whittled the lead down to 39-37 with 17:29 to play but the Cowboys went on a 12-2 spurt to push the lead to 52-39 with 14:19 to play. In the run, Matt Addison had eight straight points.

The Cru never cut the Cowboy lead to less than 10 points the rest of the way and HSU pushed it out to a 70-50 game with 6:55 to play. HSU shot 49.1 percent in the game and limited the Cru to 36.8 percent shooting. UMHB was just 1-for-14 from 3-point range.

Addison led the way for the Cowboys with 29 points and seven assists. Derrick Jefferson had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Terrance Booker added 10 points. The Cru was led by Dean Pele and Marlon Miller with 13 points each.

The win snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Cru and pushed the Cowboys into first place in the ASC West along with UMHB and McMurry. The Cru play at McMurry on Saturday, while the Cowboys host fourth-place team Concordia.

HSU is now 14-8 on the year and 13-5 in league play. UMHB fell to 17-5 overall and to 13-5 in ASC action.