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Contributed by Chad Grubbs, HSU Director of Athletic Communications
ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team will head to Alpine for the 2016 American Southwest Conference Tournament and will open play on Thursday at 5 p.m. against Texas Dallas.
The Cowboys finished tied for second in the ASC West with Concordia and lost the tiebreaker and will be the third seed. HSU is 15-10 on the year and finished 8-6 in league play. The Cowboys did win both games against Texas Dallas on the year, a 69-64 win in Abilene and a 78-68 win earlier this month in Richardson.
It is the fourth time in the last five years the two teams have met in the ASC Tournament. HSU won 64-63 on a John Derr 3-pointer in 2012, UTD won 78-69 in the ASC Championship game in 2014 and HSU won 77-63 in the first round last year. HSU has won three straight in the series.
The winner of the game will take on the winner of Sul Ross State and LeTourneau game in the semifinals on Friday.
HSU has a balanced attack that has six players averaging in double figures for the season. Christian O'Neal leads the way with 13 points per game, Justin Jones averages 12.5 points and Dashun Dixon (11.7), Nathaniel Jack (11.6), Cameron Barnes (11.2) and Duane Hopper all average in double figures.
Jack leads the conference in rebounding and Jones leads all divisions with 113 blocked shots.
HSU head coach Craig Carse is expected to be back on the bench this weekend. The eighth-year Cowboy coach has led the Cowboys to the ASC Tournament for the sixth straight year. HSU has won at least one game in all eight career tournament appearances.
You can follow the Cowboys in the tournament at www.hsuathletics.com
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