HBU MBB: Huskies Drop Matchup with Northwestern State

Read Time:2 Minute, 19 Second

HOUSTON – The HBU men’s basketball team dropped a 93-79 decision in Southland Conference play on Saturday night inside Sharp Gym to visiting Northwestern State.

The two teams went back and forth in the early going with Northwestern State (10-12, 7-6 SLC) going ahead 8-7 after a Trenton Massner three but the Huskies answered with the next seven points to lead 14-8 at the 14:45 mark. A few minutes later the teams traded leads with a Ryan Gomes jumper putting HBU ahead 20-19 with 9:28 to go in the half.

The Demons then came back with an 11-2 run for a 30-22 advantage less than four minutes later. The NSU lead reached 11 in the first half but a pair of free throws in the last minute by Ian DuBose made it a 45-36 game at the half.

Less than four minutes into the second half the Huskies found themselves trailing by 13, 57-44, but sophomore Benjamin Uloko scored the next six points for the Huskies with DuBose adding a pair for an 8-1 run that brought HBU back to within six. The Demons, however, had an answer and out-scored the Huskies 14-3 over the next four minutes and held a 72-55 lead.

HBU again responded, scoring the game’s next nine points to bring it to 72-64 with 5:22 on the clock. NSU’s Brian White made a layup 18 seconds later to break a five minute scoreless stretch for the Demons and push the HBU deficit back to double-digits. NSU would lead by at least 10 the rest of the way.

DuBose led the Huskies with 22 points and eight rebounds while also adding four assists, three steals and a pair of blocked shots. The junior finished 6-of-13 from the floor and 9-of-12 from the charity stripe. Uloko ended the night 6-of-10 from the floor with 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench with Ty Dalton adding 13 points. Qon Murphy scored 12 points off the bench for the Huskies and pulled down a career-high seven rebounds.

The Huskies shot 41.5 percent (27-of-65) from the floor but struggled from deep, connecting on just 2-of-18 from behind the arc. NSU finished the night shooting 50.7 percent (37-of-73) and held a 41-38 advantage on the boards. Nikos Chougkaz posted a double-double for the Demons with 16 points and 12 rebounds while White led all players with 23 points.

HBU will be on the road for the next two beginning this coming Wednesday, Feb. 12, with a visit to Abilene, Texas to face Abilene Christian at 7:30 p.m.