LeTourneau University Athletics

BELTON, Texas -- LeTourneau men's basketball couldn't overcome a second-half surge by the Mary Hardin-Baylor on Tuesday night, falling to the Crusaders 76-70 at the Mayborn Center.

The 40th edition of the LeTourneau-UMHB rivalry did not disappoint, but it was a 28-13 second-half run that sealed the win for the host Cru (2-0).

LeTourneau (1-1) saw three players reach double digits, led by Max Frels' 17 points. Frels tacked on seven rebounds and five steals to his line.

Three triples guided Dionisio Martinez to 12 points, while Jace Jeffries added 10. Down low, Javon Toliver totaled eight points with eight rebounds and three rejections.

The YellowJackets were all over the offensive glass, totaling 16 such boards, including seven of Cooper Smith's eight rebounds coming on the offensive end.

LeTourneau's consistent defense is also worth a mention, as the Jackets have only allowed 73.5 points per game, the least through the team's first two contests since 2023-24.

Both teams traded blows in the first half, as the game saw five lead changes across the first 10 minutes of play.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Martinez gave LeTourneau a slight 19-16 edge with 9:22 to go in the first.

The YellowJackets extended that lead to as much as nine, but consecutive jumpers from Cam Stinson trimmed the lead to three, where it remained until the half.

LeTourneau would hold that lead for the first couple of minutes of the second half, but back-to-back triples from Stinson and Josh Goings tied the game at 38-38 with 17:20 to go.

Those 3-pointers were a part of a 12-point stretch that put the Cru up 44-38, with their lead being as much as nine at the 9:50 mark.

Slowly but surely, the YellowJackets would cut into that lead, bringing the game within one possession three times.

Down 74-70 with 25 seconds remaining, Toliver rejected a layup to give LeTourneau one more push. Frels found himself open in the corner, but couldn't convert. 

UMHB knocked down a pair of free throws to ice the contest at 76-70.

Goings led the UMHB attack with 20 points, followed closely by Stinson's 18. Nathan Fleming garnered 12 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau takes the weekend off before returning home for another old rivalry against the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 p.m.

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