BELTON, Texas- For the second night in a row, the No. 2-ranked UMHB men’s basketball team found itself in a hole in the blink of the eye. On Tuesday, the Crusaders folded beneath the frustration and pressure, falling 80-71. But less than 24 hours later, exhibiting the maturity anticipated from a squad with a number of key returners, the response was 180 degrees different.
BELTON- With 6:56 left to play in Saturday night’s second round NCAA Tournament duel with Trinity (TX), Ty Prince took three long strides then leapt off the floor, his right hand outstretched.
BELTON- Clif Carroll does not believe in beginning postseason tournament preparation during the week of a tournament. For the UMHB head coach, who is leading his top-seeded Crusaders into this week’s American Southwest Conference Tournament, preparing for these situations begins the first time his team walks onto the floor in October.
AUSTIN- At the tail end of an eight-day road swing that featured five games and 1,428 miles on the bus, not playing quite up to standard would have been understandable when the UMHB men’s basketball team took the floor against Concordia Monday night.
ALPINE- Over the last few weeks, Sul Ross State has become known for second-half comebacks. And on Saturday afternoon, true to form, the Lobos mounted a second-half run. But UMHB was ready for it, and the 16th-ranked Crusaders came away from their final regular season road contest with a 78-74 victory.
LONGVIEW- Josiah Johnson connected on just one three-pointer Monday night.
But it proved to be the biggest shot of the day, as the junior guard dodged two defenders and fired a long three at the buzzer, winning the critical ASC showdown for the UMHB men’s basketball team, ranked No. 16 in the nation.