AUSTIN – The Huston-Tillotson University men's basketball team won its fourth consecutive home game Saturday as they defeated Red River Athletic Conference rival Paul Quinn College 63-51.
Midseason transfer
Cade Holzman led the Rams in scoring for the second time in his two games with HT. The 6-foot-8 Austin local and transfer from Angelina College scored 14 points in addition to tallying seven rebounds and six steals.
Charles Hallmon scored 11 points for the Rams, while teammate
Jayce Wright chipped in nine points, four assists, and four steals. Richard Lemboye led Paul Quinn College (3-14, 3-11 RRAC) with 12 points.
Holzman's six steals accounted for one-third of HT's total as head coach
John A. Smith's squad used stifling full-court defense to 18 steals and force 25 Paul Quinn turnovers. HT committed seven fewer turnovers than their guests and the Rams enjoyed a 20-10 advantage in points off turnovers.
In one of HT's (4-10, 4-8 RRAC) finest performances of the season, the Rams held the lead for more than 34 of the game's 40 minutes. The Rams only trailed for 1 minute, six seconds of game time, when Paul Quinn led 2-0 early in the contest.
HT twice stretched its lead to nine points in the first half and led by as many as 19 points with eight minutes remaining in the second half. The home team used a run of 11 unanswered points during a two-and-a-half-minute stretch in the second half to build a 50-34 lead with 12:26 left to play in the game.
The Rams also helped their cause at the free throw line, making 84.2 percent (16 of 19) of their attempts. Holzman made all six free throws he attempted, while Hallmon was 5-of-6 from the line. Meanwhile, the Tigers only shot 50 percent (10 of 20) from the free throw line, undermining any comeback hopes.
HT returns to action Monday afternoon when the Rams host Southwest (N.M.) in a women's-and-men's doubleheader. Southwest won the first matchup between the teams in Hobbs, N.M., but have lost four consecutive road games; the Mustangs last win away from home was a 74-61 triumph at Paul Quinn on Nov. 23.
The men's game between the Rams and Mustangs is scheduled for approximately 3 p.m. at HT's Branch Gymnasium.
– HT –
