Clinton, MS – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball team built an early double-digit lead and then held off a late Mississippi College rally in a 75-63 victory over the Choctaws Saturday night in Clinton, Mississippi. The Cru improves to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in American Southwest Conference play with the victory. The loss drops Mississippi College to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in ASC play.

The Cru scored the game's first five points and led by as many as 12 points in the first half. The Choctaws pulled to within seven at halftime at 31-24. Mississippi College took its first lead of the game at 38-37 early in the second half. The game would see-saw until it was tied at 58 with 5:08 remaining. The Cru then closed the game with a 17-5 run to pull away in the final minutes.

Kitrick Bell led a balanced UMHB scoring attack with 17 points on 6-9 shooting. Brian Todd added 16 points and 11 rebounds, James Allen scored 15 and Cory Meals chipped in 14. The Cru shot 51 percent in the second half and hit 46 percent for the game. UMHB also won the rebounding battle 45-35.

Brandon Blake was the only player in double figures for Mississippi College with 18 points. The Choctaws shot 34 percent from the field and hit just 4-17 from three-point range in the game.

UMHB will continue its road trip with a 7:30 PM start at Louisiana College on Monday. The Cru will then return home to host U.T.-Dallas and University of the Ozarks next week.