BELTON, Texas - As part of the final non-conference contest of the 2018-19 regular season, Hendrix looked to pick up a huge road win Saturday when the Warriors took on Cru Holiday Classic host University of Mary Hardin-Baylor from Belton, Texas. After shooting 25% (5-of-20) from deep in the opening 20 minutes and carding 33 points as a team, the Warriors ultimately fell to the Crusaders, 85-66. For the second time in as many days, it was senior guard Preston Smith who tallied the team-high in points with 16 of them including four trifectas. The loss drops Hendrix to 4-7 on the year while UMHB improves to 12-1.

THE BASICS
Score:  Hendrix 66, Mary Hardin-Baylor 85
Records: Warriors (4-7) | Crusaders (12-1)
Location | Time: Belton, TX | 5 PM
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Up Next: Jan. 2 at Rhodes | 5 PM

TURNING POINT
Leading by just two, UMHB used a quick 14-0 run just over four minutes midway through the first half to jump out to a 23-11 lead. UMHB also ended the game on a 16-5 run over the last 7:33 to win by 19.

OF NOTE
- For the second evening in a row, Hendrix held an early lead after freshman guard Sean Coman hit a trifecta with 15:55 to go to give the Warriors a two-point edge (9-7).
- Smith finally got on the board at the 5:46 mark, part of an 8-0 run that was all thanks to Smith; a tough three-pointer in transition capped off the final points of the run but the Warriors trailed 40-26 with 4:19 left til the break.
- With 23 seconds left in regulation, Smith connected on his third three-pointer of the half as Hendrix went into the locker room down 44-33.
- A three-point basket from sophomore Trey Rouse with 14:15 left brought Hendrix within single-digits (57-48).
- Trailing by 15, back-to-back three's by Rouse and Smith brought the Warriors within nine again with 9:31 left.
- Down 11 with 6:36 left, the Crusaders landed a 9-2 run to balloon its lead to 15.
- After scoring seven of the final eight points, UMHB hung on to a 85-66 victory over Hendrix in the final game of the Cru Holiday Classic.
- Fitch finished with the second-most points for Hendrix on the night after he poured in 10 on an efficient 4-of-5 (80%) from the floor and grabbed five boards as well.
- Coman and freshman forward Seth Stanley added nine points in each and combined for nine rebounds.
- Brasfield added a team-high 6 dimes and five rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench. 
- As a collective unit, Hendrix shot 24-of-68 (35.3%) from the floor, 9-of-41 (22.0%) from downtown and 9-for-14 (64.3%) from the charity stripe while UMHB landed a 32-of-71 (45.1%) mark from the floor, 7-for-20 (35.0%) from beyond-the-arc and 14-for-17 (82.4) from the free throw line.
- The Warriors committed one fewer turnover (13-14) than the Crusaders and also finished with a combined 15 points scored off turnovers while UMHB recorded 14 points off turnovers. 

WHO'S NEXT
Now that the non-conference slate of the season is complete, the Warriors will look to open up the Southern Athletic Association portion of the season strong with a road contest against Rhodes. Hendrix and the Lynx are set for a 5 p.m. tip-off start time Jan. 2.

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