Crusaders fall at Ozarks on Tuesday
CLARKSVILLE, Ark. - The University of Dallas men's basketball team was defeated 91-76 at the University of the Ozarks on Tuesday night. The Crusaders improved is shooting percentage from their season opener last week, by going 43.1 percent overall, but were unable to halt the home team. The Eagles (1-1) were 52.9 percent from the field and made 37 field goals in 70 attempts, as they captured their first victory in the young season.
Dallas (0-2) was led by Letrell Toussaint (Waco, Texas) with a personal-best 14 points off the bench. This included 10-of-11 from the free throw line. The freshman also secured his first collegiate double-double with a game-high 10.
The Crusaders were 27-of-33 (81 percent) from the charity stripe. Dustin Mathis (Fort Worth, Texas) totaled a career-best for the second game in a row with 12 points. Michael Wambsganss (Denver, Colo.) added 10.
Ozarks came out hot shooting 55.6 percent (20-36) from the field in the first half that led to a 50-34 halftime advantage.
A three-pointer by UD's Wambsganss followed a layup by Logan Fruhwirth (Waynsville, Ohio) to grab an early 5-2 lead just over three minutes in. Fruhwirth had another layup and then Letrell made a pair of free throws, as each two-point plays kept the road team's edge at three at their respective junctures.
Down 9-6, 12 straight points allowed the Eagles to regain the lead for good with about 12 minutes left in the first half on a jumper from Kelvin Knight (10-9). U of O soared away as Knight made a layup and was fouled for the old fashioned three-point play. His made free throw made it 15-9, and then another three-point play at the free throw line - this time by Bryson Johnson - would cap the surge.
Dallas' leading scorer, Toussaint, came up with one-of-two free throws at 10:36 left to snap the scoring streak.
Johnson notched two free throws about two minutes later to make it a double-digit margin. For the second time on the road trip, UD would fall behind in the opening frame, with the deficit 50-34.
The Crusaders did outscore their opponent 42-41 in the second half, but the damage was done. The guests never came closer than the 15 points that resulted in the final tally.
The Ozarks outrebounded UD 35-34 and took advantage of the size difference down low with a 44-28 difference in points in the paint. The Eagles also led in 2nd chance points (44-28) and fastbreak points (16-4).
Johnson and Cordy Winston each tossed in a game-high 20 points. Knight added nine. A quartet of players: Tim Turpin, Cory Wilhelm, Zach Bobo, and Sean Cohns each contributed a pair of blocks to the team's nine in the game.
UP NEXT
Dallas seeks its first win of the 2018-19 season, and will have two more chances this upcoming weekend in the Millsaps College Thanksgiving Tournament. On Saturday, the Crusaders will play Mississippi University for Women on a neutral court. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.