Dec. 11, 2005

ABILENE, Texas - The Tip The rivalry between the two teams has accelerated in recent years and most of the games of late have been close, but the Cowboys have still only won one of the last 15 games in the series...The two teams were part of a three-way tie at the top of the American Southwest Conference's West Division last season...Monday's game is especially important for the Cowboys as they have already lost a conference game. A win, would tie the two teams atop the conference standings, heading into a tough road trip...The Cowboys have played well in Kimbrell Arena of late. In 2003, the Cowboys lost 75-71, then won in 2003-04, 87-85 and lost last season in overtime 74-71...Junior's Zach Pickelman and Tanner Kudrna have been the steady forces for the Cowboys. Kudrna has scored in double figures in each of the last five games. He also leads the team in assists and is second in rebounds...Pickelman broke out of a recent shooting slump with a 5-for-6 effort from 3-point range at SMU on Saturday. He made his first five threes in the game...Mardochee Jean leads the ASC with 28 blocks, in loop action he is averaging 14.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game.

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About HSU The Cowboys are 4-3 on the year, but two of the losses have come to Division I opponents. The other loss to UT-Tyler was a tie game with three minutes to go, before the Patriots pulled away...HSU has lived by its defense so far as teams are averaging just 67 points and Division III teams are averaging a paltry 59.8 points per game and are shooting just 35 percent...HSU has used a balanced offensive attack this season and three players are averaging double figures -- Zach Pickelman (14.0), Tanner Kudrna (12.3), Mardochee Jean (11.9)...The Cowboys have extended depth for the first time in the Dylan Howard era as 10 players are in the regular rotation.

About The Indians McMurry has returned to its fast-paced game that led them to the NCAA Tournament a few times a several years ago. The Indians press all over the court and want to force the tempo on you. The return to the style coincides with the return of former assistant Russell Vanlandingham. McMurry is averaging 98.2 points per game and giving up 89.5. Opponents are shooting 49.7 percent, but are turning it over 27 times per game.

Last Time Out HSU came up with a game effort against Division I Southern Methodist, before falling 85-70. The Cowboys trailed by a 71-65 score at the 5:16 mark of the second half but SMU pulled away. The Mustangs took 31 free throws in the game and the Cowboys attempted only seven. SMU shot 60 percent in the second half.

Next Up The Cowboys hit the road for the long trip to Louisiana College on Thursday and on to Mississippi College on saturday. Those games will close out the fall semester for the Cowboys and they return to action Jan.5 when it hosts Ozarks.

The Series Despite the recent McMurry run, Hardin-Simmons still owns a 37-30 series record. The margin of victory in the last seven games has been 5.7 points per game.

Finding the Range Zach Pickelman had been through a shooting slump, shooting only 20 percent from 3-point range in the last four games. All he needed to find his stroke was a game against Division I SMU as he nailed his first five 3-pointers and four of them never touched the rim. He is now shooting 46 percent for the season from deep.

Knew Look Kudrna One of the top weapons for the Cowboys has been the all-around play by junior forward Tanner Kudrna. He is second on the team in rebounding and scoring and leads the team in assists. He has gone from basically a 3-point specialist earlier in his career to more of a driver and pull-up player. He also has played solid defense and has taken six charges this season to lead the team and is one of the more vocal players on the team.

Hey, I Know You Hardin-Simmons center Mardochee Jean will see a familiar person on the opposing bench tomorrow - his younger brother, Dan. Dan, who played sparingly at HSU last season, is doing the same for the Indians this year. Returning Cowboys will also see another familiar face. Kent McClure was an assistant for the Cowboys the last two years, he has moved across town to McMurry this season.