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Contributed by Chad Grubbs, HSU Director of Athletic Communications
ALPINE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons men's basketball team won its first American Southwest Conference title with a 91-79 win over Louisiana College on Saturday evening at the Gallego Center in Alpine.
HSU trailed by one point in the entire tournament for a total of 18 seconds and won all three games by double digits. The Cowboys did not trail at all on Saturday.
"I am proud of these guys," said HSU Head Coach Craig Carse. "It has been a difficult season for all of us with my health and they never flinched. Rian Stubbs and Jeff Holland did a great job keeping them focused on the task at hand and we have an experienced bunch that was prepared to go out and claim the championship."
Justin Jones got the Cowboys to a strong start scoring eight of the first 11 points in an 11-2 run. LC cut it 13-9 and HSU responded with another 9-0 run to make it 22-9. HSU led 34-26 at halftime.
The Cowboys stormed out of the locker room and pushed the lead out 50-33 with 15:33 to play. LC had one more run and cut it to 54-49 on a Raheem Regis jumper with 10:19 to play, but HSU scored 14 of the next 17 points and kept control of the game the rest of the way.
"We knew we had to defend and just do what we do," said Nathaniel Jack. "We have put so much into this and it feels good to finally get that ring and have our hard work pay off."
The Cowboys shot 59.2 percent in the game hitting 29-of-49 shots. They also hit 23-of-25 free throws including a 12-of-12 performance from Christian O'Neal.
O'Neal led the way with 20 points for the Cowboys. Jones and Caleb Spoon added 15 and Cameron Barnes scored 12.
Anthony Gaines led the Wildcats with 19 points and 13 rebounds and Raheem Regis had 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Nathaniel Jack was named the MVP of the tournament. Justin Jones and Christian O'Neal were named to the all-tournament team as well.
HSU is now 18-10 on the year and Louisiana College finished the year 14-13. The NCAA Tournament field will be announced on Monday.
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