Men's Basketball hangs tough, but falls to Rust College

The University of Dallas Men's basketball team (1-6) fought hard against Rust College on Friday evening, but late turnovers resulted in a 68-55 Bearcat victory.

Dallas started off strongly, scoring the first seven points of the game, but would trail Rust, 27-21, at halftime. 

Freshman guard Braeton Hightower (Sperry, Okla./Owasso H.S.) was key in helping the Crusaders remain within striking distance throughout the course of the game. His hard-nosed play helped propel Dallas to a one-point lead midway through the second half. Hightower had 20 points on the night. He connected on 3-of-7 from three-point land, and finished 8-of-14 from the field.

Senior guard/forward Noah Pettit (Fairfax, Calif./Sir Francis Drake) and junior guard Barrett Brown (Phoenix, Ariz./Mountain Pointe H.S.) combined for 23 points, each reaching double figures in scoring. 

Down the stretch, Rust's defense tightened up, forcing several Dallas turnovers, which proved costly for the Crusaders. A 13 point loss was the result, though the deficit would've been ten had it not been for a made Bearcat three-pointer in the game's final second.

In a rematch of sorts, Dallas will travel to Georgetown, Texas, to play at Southwestern University, on Sunday. The game will tip off at 4:00 p.m. The two teams squared off in Dallas' first game of the season, with the Crusaders capturing a thrilling 74-72 win over the Pirates, behind Hightower's 30 points.