BELTON, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team fell in overtime, 90-81, at Mary Hardin-Baylor on Thursday evening in American Southwest Conference action at the Mayborn Campus Center in Belton.

HSU is now 0-19 all-time in Belton against the Cru. HSU fell to 12-2 on the year and 8-1 in league play. UMHB improved to 10-4 overall and 7-2 in conference action.

The Cru jumped to an early 12-2 lead and the Cowboys never led in regulation. UMHB led 38-31 at halftime.

HSU chipped away at the deficit and eventually tied the game at 58. The Cru pushed the lead back to 71-64 with 1:20 to play. Then Christian O'Neal hit a 3-pointer, Justin Jones had a dunk after a steal and the Cowboys cut it to 71-69.

The Cowboys had the ball under their own basket with 3.8 to play and ran a perfect inbounds play to get a layup for O'Neal to tie the game with 1.5 to play and send it to overtime,

HSU took its only lead of the game when Derrick Jefferson was fouled going to the hole after the tip and he made both to give HSU a 73-71 lead. Daniel Mills then hit back-to-back 3-pointer and a layup and the Cowboys didn't answer this time.  

Jefferson led the Cowboys with 28 points and 10 rebounds and O'Neal had 20 points all after halftime. Duane Hopper had 13 for HSU.

Jerard Graham had a huge night for the Cru with 31 points and 12 rebounds and Mills added 26 points and 10 rebounds.

The Cowboys return to action on Saturday at Concordia at 3 p.m.

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