Crusaders Unable to Hang with Schreiner University in Second Half
KERRVILLE, Texas – The University of Dallas men's basketball team dropped its matchup versus Schreiner University on Saturday evening. Dallas (11-10, 7-7 SCAC) led at the halftime break after Jacob Giunta (Keller, Texas) was red hot from the floor and finished with a career-high 25 points in the game. Giunta shot 6-8 from the field and 3-5 from behind the three-point line as he secured 17 of the Crusaders 35 points at the break. Schreiner (7-14, 5-9 SCAC) then came out with a vengeance shooting 13-24 (54.2%) from the field and 17-20 (85%) from the free throw line in the second half. Poor shooting from three-point range and costly turnovers hurt UD in the game.
UD opened up the game with a 4-2 lead, but SU took its first lead early after Chase Pinter nailed his three-point attempt. SU later held a 7-6 advantage three minutes into the half. Four-straight three-pointers came next in the contest, but unfortunately for Dallas three of these came from the Mountaineers as they pushed their lead to 16-9. Every UD shot looked to be answered by the Mountaineers. Out of the under eight media timeout, UD found its rhythm with a 12-2 run to regain the lead (30-26) with two minutes to play. UD eventually held onto a 35-31 lead at the break.
Matthew Rindahl scored the first three points of the second half for SU to pull them within a point. Isaiah Hayes (Arlington, Texas) then drained a trey to keep Dallas ahead. John Russell (Bossier City, La.) hit back-to-back jumpers for UD to give Dallas a 41-36 lead. Pinter hit consecutive three-pointers to put Schreiner back out in front (42-41) at the 15:10 mark. Hayes and Giunta kept up the hot second half shooting for UD as they combined for seven points in a two-minute span to give Dallas a six-point lead. SU later found a run of its own to get back within a point (48-47) with 12 minutes left in the game.
After surrendering the lead once again, Dustin Mathis (Fort Worth, Texas) hit a timely three with 10 minutes to play to put Dallas back out in front (53-51). With seven minutes to play, Dallas took a 60-58 lead after a Giunta trey, but this is where the Crusaders would then go ice cold from the field. SU grinded out a 12-0 run. UD put together four-straight points to climb back to 70-64 with 2:36 to play. SU closed out the game making six-straight free throws to take the game.
Following behind Giunta in the scoring column was Russell who grabbed nine points and eight rebounds. Hayes and Jai Love (St. Louis, Mo.) both finished with seven points each. Giunta also had a personal-best three blocks in the ballgame. UD got some help from its bench, as they scored 25 points.
Rindahl led the Mountaineers with 17 points and eight rebounds. Paul Wells added 13 points, while Alex Dehoyos put in a 10-point effort for Schreiner. Dehoyos also notched five assists on the night. The Mountaineers made 21 of its 26 shots at the free throw line and won the rebound battle 40-33. SU was able to convert 24 points off of 14 turnovers and scored 34 points in the paint.
UP NEXT
Dallas will play its final home games of 2020 next weekend. UD will host Texas Lutheran University on Friday at 5:30 p.m. Saturday will feature Senior Night as the Crusaders faceoff with Southwestern University at 4:00 p.m. Four Crusaders will be honored before the contest.