ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' Cowboy basketball team defeated the Ozarks Eagles 65-64 with a clutch finish in an American Southwest Conference contest at home on Saturday in the Mabee Athletic Complex.
The tight game between the Cowboys and the Eagles had six ties and ten lead changes. HSU edged out Ozarks 41-37 going into half.
In a slower paced second half, Hardin-Simmons made its way to a ten-point lead 47-37 before a methodical run from Ozarks to take the lead 49-47, only to be met with a dunk from
Austin Brewer to tie the game up at 49-49 with 12 minutes left.
The Eagles worked their way to a 62-59 lead before an
Asher Fleming three tied the game for the Cowboys at 62-62 with four minutes remaining.
Another bucket from
Will Bartoszek and a free throw from Brewer were all the Cowboys needed to finish off Ozarks 65-64.
Bartoszek led the floor with 22 points, shooting 7-15 and adding eight rebounds. Brewer had a double-double with 18 points and ten rebounds.
Jason Justice led the team with five assists.
The Cowboys shot 34% to 41% from Ozarks in the game. The Eagles took the close rebounding lead with 42 to 39 for HSU, but Hardin-Simmons won the turnover margin with only nine, forcing 17 Eagles turnovers.
Hardin-Simmons improves to 8-2 and 4-0 in the ASC with the Eagles of Ozarks falling to 5-4 and 1-1 in ASC play. The Cowboys return to the Mabee Complex to host UT-Dallas on Monday at 3 p.m.
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