Austin, TX – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor men's basketball team took control of the game in the first half and then held off a late Concordia rally as the Cru posted a 94-81 victory over the Tornados Tuesday night in Austin. UMHB improves to 17-3 overall and 13-1 in American Southwest Conference play with its eight straight victory. The loss drops Concordia to 15-5 overall and 10-4 in the ASC on the year.

UMHB opened up a 10-point lead at 19-9 just 4:20 into the game. The lead would grow to as many as 20 points before the Cru settled for a 50-31 halftime lead. The Cru pushed the lead to as many as 25 midway through the second half before the Tornados started to chip away late. Concordia closed to within ten points at 80-70 with 4:09 to go. UMHB then started to hit free-throws and opened the lead back to 17 before cruising to the win.

Kitrick Bell finished with a monster game for the Cru, scoring 24 points and pulling down a UMHB Division III era record 24 rebounds. He also tied the ASC record of 24 boards held by TLU's John Laramore and McMurry's Travis Tennison. Thomas Orr added 20 points and seven boards, Brian Todd had 15 points, James Allen chipped in 12 and Antonie Chaney had 11 points for the Cru. UMHB shot 45 percent from the field and out rebounded Concordia 55-41 in the game.

Josh Sanchez led the Tornados with 19 points and three other players reached double figures. Concordia shot just 41 percent from the field and went just 6-24 from three-point range in losing at home for the first time this season.

UMHB is now 5-0 on its six-game road trip. The Cru will close out the road swing with a 7:30 PM start at Hardin-Simmons University on Thursday in Abilene. UMHB will then close out the regular season with four straight home games.