Box Score ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team held off Concordia 102-98 in American Southwest Conference action at the Mabee Complex on Thursday evening.
The win combined with wins by Louisiana College and Mary Hardin-Baylor and loss by East Texas Baptist sets up a four-way tie atop the ASC standings with one league game to play.
The Cowboys took control early in the first half with an 18-3 run to take a 35-17 lead with 9:42 to play in the first half. HSU led by as many as 22 on a couple of different occasions, but the Tornados had chipped it down 51-43 at halftime.
HSU led 70-51 with 14:23 to play and Concordia methodically cut into the Cowboy lead cutting it to 92-89 with 2:53 to play. HSU held on down the stretch.
Derrick Jefferson had a big night for the Cowboys with 23 points and 14 rebounds to pace all five Cowboy starters in double figures. Charles Sams had 19 points, Justin Jones had 16 points and 13 rebounds and Christian O'Neal had 15 points and 11 assists and Nathaniel Jack added 10 points.
Josh Sanchez had 35 points to pace Concordia and Andre Potts added 27 off the bench.
HSU is now 18-6 overall and 14-5 in league play. Concordia fell to 15-9 overall and 11-8 in ASC play. The Cowboys will host Mary Hardin-Baylor for senior day on Saturday at 3 p.m.
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