By Alan Wiederhold
HT Athletic Communications
AUSTIN – Huston-Tillotson University's men's basketball team overpowered in-state rival Jarvis Christian 68-59 Saturday to claim its first win this season over an NAIA opponent.
Sophomore forward
Shannon Robinson scored 23 points on 10-of-20 shooting to lead the Rams (2-0) to their fourth consecutive victory over Jarvis Christian dating back to 2023.
Caleb Campbell chipped in 13 points, five assists, and seven steals for the Rams.
Robinson and Campbell tied for the HT lead in rebounding with eight apiece.
Aboubacar Cisse scored 19 points and hauled in nine rebounds off the Jarvis Christian bench. Iversyn Smith scored 11 points and blocked four shots in addition to his game-high 22 rebounds for the Bulldogs (0-1).
KEY POINTS
The Rams were in control for most of the first half but Jarvis Christian stayed within reach for most of the period. HT scored six unanswered points over the last three minutes of the half to take a 38-28 lead into halftime.
HT used a run of seven consecutive points between the 15:06 and 12:43 marks of the second half to stretch the Ram lead to 51-32, the Rams' largest lead of the game. Robinson scored four points during the run, which was capped by
Blake Fisher making three free throws after getting fouled shooting a long-range attempt.
The visiting Bulldogs kept chipping away at HT's lead, cutting the home advantage to six points twice in the last two and a half minutes. But each time the Rams were able to get at least a point back and make it a three-possession game as they gradually ran out the clock.
NOTEWORTHY
• Campbell's seven steals were the most by an HT player since Mason Brownlow swiped seven steals in a loss at Paul Quinn on Nov. 14, 2024. Campbell had five steals in the first half.
• The Rams' up-tempo game forced 18 Jarvis turnovers and netted the Rams a 24-8 advantage in fast-break points. The Rams also enjoyed a 22-7 advantage in points off turnovers.
•
Jaylen Streeter scored nine points for the Rams, followed by six points from Fisher.
• The Rams shot 50 percent from inside the 3-point arc, making 23 out of 46 of their 2-point attempts.
• HT committed only eight turnovers in the game, the fewest by an HT team under head coach
John A. Smith. The Rams committed a season-low of nine turnovers thrice last year, including both games against Jarvis Christian in Red River Athletic Conference play.
– HT –
