Hot Second Half Not Enough for Crusaders vs Colorado College

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Univerisity of Dallas men's basketball team lost their conference matchup with Colorado College 99-76 this afternoon.  They fall to 3-9 overall and 1-3 in conference play.

Dallas got on the board first and lead for the first two minutes of the game, but the Tigers took the lead soon thereafter and would hold that lead the rest of the game.  Colorado slowly built their lead, but the Crusaders kept themselves very much in the game well into the first half, trailing by just eight points with a little over seven minutes to play.  They have been prone to dry spells this season, particularly the last four games, and a four and a half minute stretch in which they only sank one basket meant the Tigers were able to double their lead.  Despite their early success from three-point range (6-18 in the first half), the Crusaders went 4-15 from the field in the final nine minutes of the period, taking a 24-point deficit into halftime.

The turnaround in the second half was spectacular.  Despite only being able to cut Colorado's lead down to 16 at their peak, the Crusaders put together one of their best offensive halves of basketball this season, shooting 52% from the field and 62.5% from beyond the arc.   They did well to limit the Tigers' production as well, as their shooting percentage dipped from 63% in the first half to 44% in the second.  Though it would be too little too late, it was certainly an encouraging performance in the second half for the Crusaders.

Jai Love led the team with 14 points, going 4-7 from the field and 3-5 from three-point range.  Cameran Hyde added 13 points, with Marcus Juarez right behind with 10 points; the Crusaders bench combined for 28 points on the night.

Up Next

Conference play continues this Sunday against St. Thomas.  The Celts will be hosting, with tipoff set for 12:00 p.m.