Patriots split two in Abilene

University’s men’s basketball team played follow the leader with the women’s team last week.

The Patriots defeated Schreiner at home 74-61, beat Hardin-Simmons 79-75 and fell to McMurry 76-66.

Monday

The Mountaineers stiffled the Patriots usual fast paced offense and suffocated the paint in the first half.

The Patriots struggled to get off good shots and missed their last seven of the first half.

The Mountaineers took a 32-22 lead at the half, due in large part to a 10-0 run.

“We didn’t play with any emotion or passion and weren’t getting any movement on or off the ball. Halftime was all about getting refocused,” said coach Kenny Bizot.

The second half proved to be just that. The Patriots turned the table and stiffened up on defense. The Patriots lulled the Mountaineers into their game plan and sped up their offence

Neal Welch led the charge hitting back to back to back 3-pt shots to recapture the lead by one.

The Mountaineers tried to slow the game down again, but the damage had been done.

The Patriots showed off their superior athleticism with their fast paced plays and emphatic dunks to turn the tide in their favor and get the win.

Welch led the team with 20 points. Van Dyke recorded a career high 17 points and seven rebounds.

Thursday

Strong first half defense by the Patriots led to poor shooting by Hardin-Simmons.

The Cowboys shot 37.5 percent from the floor and trailed the Patriots 38-30 at halftime

The tide turned, however, in the second half. The Cowboys got a hot hand from behind the arch and sunk eight  3-point shot to pull within three of the Patriots with  four minutes to play.

The Cowboys forced the Patriots to the free throw line, and the Patriots made them pay—making seven of ten down the stretch to clinch the victory.
Michael Johnson led the Patriots on the night with 18 points.  Dexter McMarion followed closely behind with 15 points.

Kareem scored 15 points as well and recorded 11 rebounds to earn his third double-double of the season.

Carlos Singer led Hardin-Simmons with a game high 22 points.

Saturday

Early Patriot turnovers led to a 12-0 start for McMurry.

The Patriots managed to fight back and take a lead on a Johnson three with three minutes left in the first half.

McMurry pulled ahead by 10 in the second half, but an 8-0 run kept the Patriots alive.

Robert Moreno, however, put McMurry in the lead for good with two minutes left on three point shot.

Kareem led the Patriots with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Welch followed with 12 points.

McMurry’s Jermaine Hart led all players with 28 points and 14 rebounds.

The Patriots are now 6-2 on the season; 3-1 in ASC play.

The will travel to Keene to face Southwestern Adventist on Wednesday before returning home to play Mary Hardin-Baylor on Saturday.