TYLER, Texas – Huston-Tillotson University's men's basketball team claimed a big road win Tuesday when they secured a 62-59 comeback victory at Texas College.
At Texas College's venerable Gus F. Taylor Gymnasium, HT's
Jayce Wright scored a team-high 15 points to lead the Rams (7-16, 7-14 RRAC).
Jackson Byas added 10 points off the HT bench.
Michael Hogg scored a game-high 17 points to lead three Steers (7-16, 6-15 RRAC) scoring in double figures.
The Rams trailed by as many as eight points midway through the second half but then responded with seven unanswered points to trim Texas College's lead to one point. A 3-pointer from
Isaiah Halliburton was bookended by field goals from
Ja'Patrick Blackmon and Wright as the Steers lead was reduced to 47-46 with eight minutes remaining in the second half.
HT and Texas College traded one-point possessions for most of the next five minutes until the Rams pulled away with an 8-0 run between the 3:18 and 1:06 marks of the second half. HT head coach
John A. Smith's defensive schemes forced two missed shots during that span; TC's Romeo Postell also missed the first shot of a one-and-one bonus free throw trip while the Rams built a 59-51 lead.
The visitors' lead proved to be enough to withstand a late charge from the Steers in the waning seconds, as Postell hit a 3-pointer with four seconds left to cut HT's lead to three, then got a steal and a desperation heave that missed as time expired.
Halliburton scored eight points off the HT bench, while Blackmon and Hallmon scored seven points apiece. Hallmon scored four points during HT's late 8-0 run.
Timothy Bradford and
Blake Fisher each scored five points for the Rams. Postell scored 12 points off Texas College's bench, while Tyrone Woods Jr. added 14 points for the Steers.
The win moved Huston-Tillotson into ninth place ahead of Texas College as both schools are chasing Jarvis Christian for the final playoff berth into the postseason Red River Athletic Conference tournament. Two of HT's remaining three games are against Jarvis Christian, including their next contest on Thursday, Feb. 13.
Thursday's game at Jarvis Christian was originally scheduled for Jan. 2, meaning Thursday's contest will mark the first meeting this season between the two rivals. The men's game will be the second of the basketball doubleheader and is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start at JCU's Rand Gymnasium.
– HT –
