Dallas Holds Off Johnson & Wales University (CO) to Grab 78-66 Win
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas men's basketball team got past a tenacious opponent in Johnson & Wales University (CO) on Friday evening. The Crusaders (10-8, 6-5 SCAC) took the victory 78-66 on its home court, but Johnson & Wales (2-17, 1-11 SCAC) went from shooting a poor 28.1% from the field in the first half to a 53.1% in the second half. Dallas led by 12 points at half. With 10 minutes left in the second half, the Wildcats used a 7-0 run to make it a five point game (58-53) at the 8:52 mark. JWU later cut the lead to just three (60-57) a minute later when Kaleb Atherley scored three straight points. Dallas then found some momentum when they found an 11-2 run to expand its lead to 71-59 with three minutes to play. UD would not let JWU get any closer playing tough defense and making key shots in the final minutes.
Dallas opened up a 10-0 lead to begin the game with the scoring coming from four different Crusaders. This lead would hold up at the first media timeout. Johnson & Wales would then go onto score three-straight buckets to make it a 10-6 game. UD would find some rhythm from the field and took some momentum into the under eight minute media after Ian Burns (Woodbury, Minn.) hit a big jumper after a missed three-pointer from the corner, as UD grabbed an 18-8 lead. JWU cut into this deficit with four minutes left in the half after Charles Young scored five-straight points (24-18). Matt Holloway (Melissa, Texas) answered this run with a three of his own after John Russell (Bossier City, La.) found him at the top of the key. Holloway added another jumper to put UD up 31-18 with 50 seconds to play. JWU added a three, but UD took the final bucket to take a 33-21 lead into the halftime break. All 10 Crusaders that played in that half scored for UD.
Both teams traded buckets to begin the second half, but UD would take a 39-28 lead at the first media timeout. The Wildcats would get some easy looks down around the rim, but Dallas would equal every JWU shot on the other side. Dallas would later hit four three-pointers in a three and half minute stretch to grow its lead (54-42). With nine minutes to play JWU was able to cut the lead to five (58-53). Atherley converted his layup and the foul shot to pull the Wildcats within three points (60-57) with 7:16 left to play. UD buckled down on defense at this point and hit key shots as time winded down to take the conference win and break its two game slide.
Dustin Mathis (Fort Worth, Texas) led Dallas with 20 points including a 7-9 effort from the free throw line. Isaiah Hayes (Arlington, Texas) added 12 points, while Jacob Giunta (Keller, Texas) put together 11 points and came down with eight rebounds. Scott Bolen (Houston, Texas) notched seven points and six defensive rebounds for UD. Giunta and Russell both had four assists in the contest.
Andray Thomas and Atherley both paced Johnson & Wales with 20 points each in the ballgame. They each also led the Wildcats with 10 and seven rebounds, respectively. Charles Young added 12 points, while Jaerron Hunter had a game-high five assists.
SOCIAL MEDIA
#UDCRUSADERS WIN!
— UDallas Athletics (@UDallasSports) February 1, 2020
Defeat JWU 78-66
- Mathis (20 pts., 7-9 FT)
- Giunta (11 pts., 8 reb., 4 asts.)
- Hayes (12 pts., 5 reb.)
- Bolen (7 pts., 6 reb.)#WeAreUD #SCACmbb #d3hoops #UDallas #UDMensBasketball pic.twitter.com/ldTxdQwEbY
UP NEXT
Dallas will play Colorado College tomorrow. First tip is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. from the Maher Center.