ABILENE, Texas  — Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team won its fourth straight American Southwest Conference game with a 78-65 win over Texas Lutheran on Saturday afternoon at the Mabee Complex.

Hardin-Simmons fell behind 15-3 in the early going as Justin Lindsay hit three 3-pointers and had 11 quick points for the Bulldogs. HSU then started to chip away at the deficit and closed it to 21-18 on the second of four first-half 3-pointers by Charles Sams.

EZ Garcia's 3-pointer at the 4:02 mark gave HSU its first lead of the game at 27-25. TLU led 35-32 at halftime. Eight of HSU's 10 field goals in the first half were from behind the arc.

The Cowboys scored the first six points of the second half and never trailed again. John Derr's jumper with 5:04 gave HSU its biggest lead of the game up to that point at 66-59. Derr hit another 3-pointer two possessions later to make it 69-61.

HSU hit 11-of-12 free throws in the final three minutes to put the game away.

Justin Lindsey led Texas Lutheran with 29 points and Troy Griffith added 13 points off the bench.

Sams and Taylor finished with 17 points each to pace five Cowboys in double figures. The 17 for Sams was a career-high as he hit five 3-pointers in the game and the Cowboys finished with 12 3-pointers.

Andy Spears had another double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds and Darius Singletary scored 14 points and John Derr added 12. Taylor also had six rebounds and six assists for the Cowboys.

HSU outrebounded the Bulldogs 33-24 and forced 21 turnovers. HSU was also 22-of-26 at the free throw line.

HSU is now 13-6 overall and 10-3 in ASC action. TLU fell to 5-15 overall and 3-11 in league play. HSU finishes its home slate this week with games against Mary Hardin-Baylor and Concordia.

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