BELTON, Texas- The UMHB men’s basketball team is oh so close to accomplishing head coach Clif Carroll’s goal entering conference play, to go undefeated in ASC action. With just four games left on the schedule, the next two may be the toughest conference contests the Cru will play all season, as two East Division opponents arrive in Belton. Preview the upcoming matchups for the Crusaders, and check out our projected starting lineup in this week’s “Coach’s Clipboard”.
Projected Starting Lineup:
PG- Josiah Johnson, Sophomore- 29.7 PPG*, 3.2 APG, 8.3 RPG*
G- Byrale Carter, Senior- 11.2 PPG, 0.8 APG, 6.0 RPG
G- Carson Hammond, Junior- 11.1 PPG, 3.9 APG*, 5.4 RPG
F- Ty Prince, Junior- 16.3 PPG, 3.2 APG, 7.2 RPG
F- Sam Reaves, Sophomore- 2.4 PPG, 0.9 APG, 3.0 RPG
*-Team High
Notes:
- UMHB is ranked No. 10 in the most recent Top 10 poll released by D3hoops.
- Johnson currently ranks No. 2 in the nation in points per game.
- The Cru lead the West Division standings with a perfect 8-0 conference record.
- UMHB defeated both Sul Ross State and Howard Payne on the road last week.
About the opponent: LeTourneau CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER
Date: February 11
Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
Place: Belton, Texas (Mayborn Campus Center)
Watch: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/umhb/
Notes:
- LeTourneau is 6-2 on the season and 4-2 in conference play. The Yellowjackets have won three of their last four.
- LETU is No. 2 in the ASC East Division standings, just behind East Texas Baptist.
- The Yellowjackets surprised the Cru the last time the two teams played on New Year’s Eve, with LETU winning 84-67. Both teams are much improved since that non-conference meeting.
- The one-two punch of Deonte Jackson and Andrew Eberhardt has led LETU all season, with Jackson averaging 20.8 PPG, and Eberhardt averaging 19.8 PPG. Both have started all eight games for the Yellowjackets this season.
About the opponent: East Texas Baptist
Date: February 13
Time: 2 p.m. CT
Place: Belton, Texas (Mayborn Campus Center)
Watch: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/umhb/
Notes:
- ETBU is 12-6 on the season and 6-3 in conference play. Notably, the Tigers lost to D1 Grambling State in an exhibition by just nine in December, and played five ASC opponents in non-conference action, going 3-2 against their conference foes.
- The last of those five came on January 2 against UMHB, as the Cru pulled out a narrow 75-73 victory. It marked the Cru’s final non-conference game of the season.
- ETBU leads the ASC East Division with a winning percentage of .667. The Tigers have won four of their last five conference games.
- ETBU is led by its post, with forward Charlie Cochran as the leading scorer with 14.6 points a game. The 6’7 junior from Louisville, Kentucky has started all 18 of ETBU’s games and also averages 6.7 rebounds per contest. The Tigers also have 6’9 forward Kevin Charles and 6’6 forward Chris Haynes, as they will look to win the game in the paint with their height advantage. UMHB’s tallest player is 6’7 freshman Kobe Ollison.
