Jan. 6, 2007

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team won its first ever game against UT-Tyler with a 77-70 win, Saturday afternoon in American Southwest Conference action at the Mabee Complex.

The Cowboys used great balance, with 16 points each from Zach Pickelman, Mike Dinkins and Matt Brackett. Mardochee Jean added 14 points and 11 rebounds. The 16 for Brackett were a career-best, coming against his hometown friend Mirada Reed. They both are from Cleveland and played against one another in high school.

The teams played a tight first half with HSU owning the biggest lead at 35-29. The Cowboys led 37-34 at the halftime break.

In the second half, the Cowboys pushed the lead to 10 points at the 12:14 mark on a Charlie Pannell lay-up to make it 49-39. UTT made a min-run to cut it to five at 53-48, but the experienced Cowboys put the game away with a strong push. A Zach Pickelman jumper made it 70-55 with 1:51 to play for HSU's biggest lead of the game.

Dylan Howard emptied his bench and UTT came fighting back with seven straight points to make it 70-62. The starters came back in and finished ip the final :43.

Hakeem Kareem led the Patriots with 12 points and five assists. Anthony Reese and Josh Twine had 11 and 10 points respectively.

HSU has won two straight and evened its record at 6-6 and are the ASC West leader with a 6-2 mark. UT-Tyler fell to 2-9 overall and 2-6 in league play. HSU plays at Concordia-Austin on Thursday in Austin.