Box Score | Bracket

HOUSTON, Texas – The Hardin-Simmons University Men’s Basketball team advances to the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship Round of 16 after a 74-72 win over St. Thomas on Saturday night in Houston.

St. Thomas jumped to an 8-2 lead before the Cowboys used six unanswered points to tie it 10-10 at the 13:11 mark. After two more tied scores, Hardin-Simmons scored five consecutive points to take an 18-14 lead. The Cowboys gained an advantage as large as seven, but the Celts capitalized on the free throw line, taking a 30-26 lead with 3:27 on the clock. With final baskets on each side, St. Thomas closed the half ahead 34-33.

The Cowboys reclaimed a lead to start the second half with a trio of layups. The Cowboys held a lead as large as four through the next nine minutes of even play. Silas Davis free throws and a Jamar Ingram layup put HSU ahead by seven at the 7:59 mark.

Five foul shots from St. Thomas’ Andrew Adebo put the Celts within one with less than five minutes left. The Cowboys continued to hold a lead as large as six until the 0:24 mark when the Celts hit a pair of free throws followed by a layup to make it 73-72. A final free throw from HSU’s Silas Davis sealed the Cowboys 74-72 win.

The Hardin-Simmons offense was a collective effort with four players reaching double-digit points, led by Austin Brewer with 16. Silas Davis led the Cowboys under the basket with eight rebounds while Will Bartoszek totaled seven.

Hardin-Simmons will return to action in the NCAA third round on Friday, March 14^th at 6:30 p.m. (CT) and will compete against New York University in New York City. The Winner of the contest will face the winner of Hampden-Sydney and Redlands on Saturday, March 15^th at 6:30 p.m. (CT).