Belton, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball team controlled the game and withstood several late Mississippi College runs as the 12th-ranked Cru rolled to an 84-70 victory over Mississippi College Thursday night in Belton. The UMHB men improve to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in American Southwest Conference play with the victory. The loss drops the Choctaws to 1-5 overall and 1-5 in the ASC on the year.
MC opened the game with an 8-2 run before the Cru stormed back. UMHB went on a 13-2 run to grab the lead for good and the Cru would lead by as many as 11 points before settling for a 41-33 halftime lead. UMHB dominated the early going in the second half and stretched the lead to 19 points before the Choctaws made another run. MC cut the lead to six points at 63-57 with 6:28 remaining, but a James Allen three-pointer and Marlon Miller basket pushed the lead back to double figures. The Choctaws pulled back to within seven points at 68-61, but Miller and Sterling Phillips answered with buckets for the Cru as UMHB took control of the game. The Cru went on to ice the game from the free-throw line.
Miller had a huge night, pouring in a career-high 36 points on 11-20 shooting from the field. Kitrick Bell added 12 points off the bench and nine different players scored for the Cru. Dorian Purnell topped UMHB with seven rebounds.
Greg Pulliam topped Mississippi College with 26 points and Brandon Blake poured in 20 more. Terencio Powell chipped in 12, but the rest of the Choctaws combined for just 12 points. Blake also pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.
The Cru shot 49 percent from the field and forced 26 turnovers. MC shot 53 percent from the field, but only hit 3-15 from the free-throw line. The Choctaws also out rebounded UMHB 38-31 in the game.
The UMHB men extended the best start in school history since making the move to NCAA Division III play with the win. The Cru will host Louisiana College in a 3:00 PM start on Saturday to close out the brief home stand.