ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team allowed 48 points in the paint and Schreiner rallied to beat the Cowboys 84-82 on Tuesday night in the home opener at the Mabee Complex.

Neither team led by more than six points in a game that was tightly contested throughout. HSU's Caleb Spoon and Schreiner's Christian Pena exchanged 3-pointers in the final :30 of the first and the Cowboys led 41-39 at halftime.

Dashun Dixon and Duane Hopper hit back-to-back 3-pointers to start the second half and the Cowboys had tied their biggest lead of the game at 47-41 with 18:40 to play, but the Mountaineers scored the next nine points to take a 50-47 lead.

Spoon had three 3-pointers and Justin Jones a dunk and HSU led 60-54 with 11:24 to play. Then Phillip Kee and Wes Miller took over in the paint for the Mountaineers, scoring 20 of the next 22 Schreiner points to give Schreiner an 82-78 lead.

Luis Mancillas split a pair of free throws with :31 to play and then Dashun Dixon hit a 3-pointer and was fouled with :24 to play. His free throw made it 83-82.

Miller split a pair of free throws and HSU had a chance to tie the game but Nathaniel Jack's floater came up short and the Mountaineers corralled the rebound and the win.

Spoon had the biggest game of his career. He scored 29 points off the bench and hit 8-of-16 from 3-point range. Dunae Hopper added 14 points and Justin Jones had 10.

Kee led Schreiner with 29 points. Mancillas had 12 points, including a pair of banked in 3-pointers late in the shot clock. Miller and Pena added 11 points each.

HSU is now 2-2 on the year and Schreiner improved to 1-3. The teams split their season series. HSU will play at Texas Lutheran at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

 

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