Clarksville, AR - The championship level effort started for the Warriors men's basketball team as they opened the 2017-18 campaign with a non-conference matchup against the Ozarks Eagles.

Hendrix is coming off a season that saw them go 11-15 overall; 7-7 SAA.

The first half began as a heavyweight fight with both teams trading blows and the back and forth affair continued throughout the first 20 minutes.

With the game tied at 16 early on the Warriors Trey Rouse got the lead back for HC. After a rebound by Kam Brasfield, the ball ended up in Rouse's hands on a breakaway and he rose up and put down a jumper that generated some momentum for HC.

The half went on and the teams continued to exchange attacks with the lead never exceeding three points for either side.

At the 6:18 mark Hendrix led by three points, 24-21.

After Ozarks took a three point lead the Warriors would sink in a three-pointer to tie the game up with 3:21 left in the first half.

Hendrix would try to pull ahead again before the half ended but the teams would enter the locker room with Ozarks holding a 32-30 lead.

The Eagles shot 38.9% from the field only knocking down two three-pointers. Though Hendrix barley shot a lower 38.7% from the field they held an advantage on the free throw line and the three-point line.

Scoring for Hendrix came from multiple sources with Brasfield leading the way with 17 while adding in a steal. Eric Roberts was able to contribute four points while Michael Calamese and Austin Moore each tallied three and two points respectively in the half.

The second half included many of the same characteristics as the first half but also saw the Warriors attempt to take control.

Hendrix was able to gain a seven point advantage on multiple occasions but every time it seemed they might pull away Ozarks had an answer.

Leading 67-60 with just under three minutes left the Warriors would struggle as UO would go on an 8-0 run to end the game in a 68-67 heart breaking loss for HC.

"I'm proud of how hard our guys fought throughout the game and I thought we played well enough to win," said Head Coach Thad McCracken. "Unfortunately, we just couldn't come up with a stop or basket in the last two minutes of the game. We will learn from this both individually and as a team and will be better the next time out.. Again, I'm proud of our guys."

The Warriors put up 67 points and saw two players eclipse the double-digit point mark. Leading the Warriors was Brasfield with 19 points and eight rebounds. Rouse had a good game as well going 4-9 from the field for 13 points. Another key player for Hendrix was Calamese who ended the day with seven points and two assists.

The Warriors record goes to 0-1 overall.

Hendrix will get a day off before traveling to Texas to take on Austin College on Friday, November 17th.  Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm.