UW-La Crosse 75, Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) 56
Belton, Texas - Al Chery scored a career-high 20 points as the UW-La Crosse men's basketball team earned a 75-56 victory over Hardin-Simmons University (Texas) Tuesday night in the Cru Holiday Classic at Mary Hardin-Baylor University in Belton, Texas. The Eagles improve to 10-2 on the season while the Cowboys fall to 1-7.
Chery had 16 of his 18 points in the first half as UW-L led 42-31 at halftime. Hardin-Simmons raced out to a 14-5 lead, but UW-L went on a 10-0 run to lead 15-14 as Chery scored all 10 of the Eagles' points. The contest was tied 21-21 with 7:42 remaining in the first half when UW-L went on a 21-10 run to end the half.
Chery was seven-of-eight from the field and one-of-two at the free throw line in the first 20 minutes.
Hardin-Simmons could get no closer than 12 points in the second half.
Tony Mane led UW-L with 20 points, finishing eight-of-19 from the field, including four-of-eight from three-point range. Chery finished with 18 points on eight-of-11 shooting from the field and two-of-four at the line.
Trevor Stratton added 11 points for the Eagles.
UW-L shot 45.5% from the field, including 38.9% (seven-of-18) from three-point range. The Eagles were eight-of-11 (72.7%) at the line.
Aaron Thornton led Hardin-Simmons with 18 points and eight rebounds while Carlos Singer added 15 points. The Cowboys shot 37.5% from the field, including 30.4% (seven-of-23) from three-point range. The team was seven-of-nine (77.8%) at the free throw line.
UW-L returns to action Wednesday, Dec. 30 playing Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) at 3 p.m.