ABILENE, Texas – Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team opened the 2026-27 season with a strong performance on its home floor, defeating Cal Lutheran 88-64 Friday night at the Mabee Complex.
The Cowboys used a balanced offensive attack and a dominant effort on the glass to take control early and pull away in the second half. After falling behind 7-4 in the opening minutes, Hardin-Simmons responded with an 11-0 run and never relinquished the lead. The Cowboys carried a 48-36 advantage into halftime before extending the margin to as many as 24 points late in the contest.
Asher Fleming paced the Cowboys with a game-high 20 points and eight rebounds, leading four Hardin-Simmons players in double figures.
Andrew Messenger added 15 points while knocking down five three-pointers, and
Myles Amason finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots.
Silas Davis contributed nine points and six assists in the season-opening win.
As a team, Hardin-Simmons shot 47.6 percent from the field and connected on 14 shots from beyond the arc. The Cowboys dominated the rebounding battle 52-34 and recorded eight blocks while limiting Cal Lutheran to just 33.3 percent shooting from the floor.
For Cal Lutheran, Matthew Verkamp led the Kingsmen with 13 points, while Cody Shen added 11.
The victory gives Hardin-Simmons a 1-0 start to the season as the Cowboys continue their opening weekend homestand. The Cowboys return to the court Saturday when they host Chapman at 6:30 p.m. inside the Mabee Complex.
--- www.hsuathletics.com ---
