KERRVILLE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team beat Schreiner 76-70 in the season opener on Saturday afternoon in Kerrville.

The win was the 400^th career win for HSU Head Coach Craig Carse. He is now 400-268 in his 25^th year as a head coach on the collegiate level.

Schreiner jumped out to an early 13-2 lead before the Cowboys went on a 15-4 run to tie the game at 17. Caleb Spoon, Ryan Leiss and Christian O'Neal all had 3-pointers in the run. The game remained close throughout the rest of the first half and Schreiner led 36-33 at the intermission.

The teams continued to go back and forth and the game was tied at 47 with 12:12 to play. HSU then ent on a 9-2 run to take a 56-49 lead with 8:21 to play. Justin Jones started the run with a jumper and a 3-pointer on back-to-back trips.

HSU led the rest of the way but the Mountaineers had cut it to 68-66 when Duane Hopper hit the dagger for the Cowboys with a 3-pointer with 1:30 to play to make it 71-66. HSU went 5-of-8 at the free throw line in the final :36 to seal the win.

Jones led the Cowboys with 16 points and 11 rebounds and four blocks. O'Neal added 15 points and Nathaniel Jack and Spoon each had 12 for the Cowboys. Spoon hit four 3-pointers in the game as HSU hit 11-of-20 3-point shots.

Christian Pena and Wes Miller led the Mountaineers with 14 points each and Blake Kelley added 11.

HSU is 1-0 on the year and Schreiner fell to 0-1. The Cowboys play at Southwestern on Thursday at 7 p.m.

--- www.hsuathletics.com ---