ABILENE, Texas -- Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team hit 17 3-pointers en route to a 100-74 win over Trinity in the season opener on Saturday night at the Mabee Complex.

Five different Cowboys scored in double figures in the game. Newcomer Christian O'Neal led the Cowboys with 21 points. The sophomore point guard hit 5-of-10 3-pointers in the contest. Derrick Jefferson hit 6-of-7 shots and had 17 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Cameron Barnes hit four 3-pointers and had 18 points and four steals. Justin Jones had 14 points and nine rebounds and Duane Hopper had 14 points off the bench. The Cowboys shot 56.7 percent in the game (38-for-67) and went 17-of-39 from 3-point range.

Matt Selling led Trinity with 14 points and Brian Blum added 11 off the bench.

Both teams came out hot and it was 9-7 1:46 into the game. HSU then went on a 11-2 run to take a 20-9 lead. The Cowboys pushed the advantage out to 37-14 at the 10:52 mark and led by as many as 24 points on a couple of occasions in the first half. HSU led 52-36 at halftime.

HSU pushed the lead to 65-38 early in the second half and never let the Tigers back in the game.

The game featured the favorites from the American Southwest Conference and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. HSU will next be in action next Saturday at Southwestern.

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