ABILENE, Texas  — Hardin-Simmons men's basketball team had its second straight excellent defensive effort and it resulted in a second straight double-digit American Southwest Conference win as the Cowboys defeated Mississippi College 72-60 in ASC action at the Mabee Complex.

The Cowboys scored the first 11 points of the game and never trailed. Derrick Jefferson capped the 11-0 run to start the game with a steal and two-handed slam dunk. HSU led by never led by less than four points the rest of the way and Jim Walter's 3-pointer gave the Cowboys its biggest lead of the first half at 38-24 with :52 to play.

The Choctaws never cut the deficit to single digits in the second half.

Jefferson had 17 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals for the Cowboys. Cameron Barnes added 16 points and nine rebounds and Titus Mims had 11 points and five rebounds. Freshman Justin Jones had a career-best eight points off the bench.

Emmanuel Ezejiofo led MC with 13 points, Jay Case had 11 points and Lakin Ford added 10. HSU held the Choctaws to 38.5 percent shooting and won the battle of the boards by 11, 38-29.

The Cowboys are now 3-6 overall and 3-3 in the American Southwest Conference. MC fell to 3-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play. HSU will host Louisiana College on Saturday at 3 p.m.

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