Feb. 19, 2004

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' young basketball team got its biggest win of the season as it surprised American Southwest Conference West Division leader Sul Ross State, 89-82, Thursday evening at the Mabee Complex in Abilene.

Freshman forward Andre Washington dominated the game on the interior with 20 points and 10 rebounds. He had five dunks in the game. Freshman Tanner Kudrna had 12 points and spilt a pair of free throws with 1.9 seconds to go in regulation to send the game to overtime.

Freshman Zach Pickelman, played just four minutes in the first half with two quick fouls. The Cowboys were able to maintain just a one point deficit at halftime 36-35. The buying of time with Pickelman paid off as the West Division Freshman of the Year frontrunner scored 11 points in the first 4:18 of the second half, including two 3-pointers and a conventional 3-point play to help the Cowboys storm out to a 52-42 lead.

Sul Ross battled back and took the lead 62-59 at the 7:58 mark on a Chris Packer 3-pointer. Neither team led by more than three points the rest of the way up until the 2:00 mark when Cedric Workman gave the Lobos a 72-67 lead. The Cowboys came roaring back as Kudrna hit a jumper, and Washington hit a tough shot inside to cut it to one.

The Lobos missed four straight free throws down the stretch and the Cowboys had three shots to take the lead in the final minute of regulation, but were unable to convert.

Derrick Workman and Chris Packer each had 13 points to lead Sul Ross State.

The Cowboys also got key contributions from its bench, including point guard Matt Brackett, who hit 7-of-8 free throws in the final stages of the game and had a couple of drive and dishes in the overtime. Dathan Jones had 10 points off the bench and Grant Justus had nine points and five assists, including a crucial three-point play to get the Cowboys within one early in the overtime session.

HSU is now 7-17 on the year and 5-8 in ASC West action. Sul Ross State fell to 16-8 and 10-3 in conference action. The loss dropped the Lobos into a first-place tie with UMHB in the West and the Crusaders have the tiebreaker to host the tournament. The Cowboys close their season Saturday with a game against arch-rival Howard Payne.