Crusaders Drop a Tight Contest with TLU
IRVING, Texas - The University of Dallas men's basketball team lost their conference matchup with Texas Lutheran 90-85 Friday evening. They drop to 7-14 on the year and 5-8 in conference.
In a game that had massive postseason implications, both teams came out battling tooth and nail. It was an offensive masterclass from start to finish. The Bulldogs shot an excellent 48% from the field and 43% from three in the first half, but the Crusaders were tht much better with what was arguably their best 20 minutes of basketball this season. As a team, they shot 56.7% from the field and 80% from three to take a three point lead into the break.
The onslaught continued in the second half, but the game changed on a dime for the Crusaders when Letrell Toussaint picked up his fourth foul not even two minutnes into the second half. Not wanting to lose the top rebounder in the conference with so much time left on the clock, head coach Matt Grahn was left no choice but to bench Toussaint for much of the second half. This broke up the lethal partnership Toussaint had formed with the second best rebounder in the conference, Jack Boyle; they would wreak havoc no longer as Toussaint sat out the better part of 11 minutes in the second half.
Though the Crusaders managed to keep in stride with the Bulldogs, thanks in no small part to a stellar second half by Marcus Juarez, they couldn't recreate the magic of their first half. It was still anybody's game with 14 seconds left, but Dallas just ran out of steam as the Bulldogs emerged victorious.
Jai Love led all players with 26 points, going 12-14 from the free throw line. Toussaint and Boyle each had double-doubles, and Marcus Juarez posted a season best 20 points with a 14-point second half. Texas Lutheran now occupy the fifth seed in the SCAC, with Dallas currently on the outside looking in at seventh place in a virtual tie with Southwestern; the Pirates have the advantage, having defeated the Crusaders twice this year.
Up Next
Conference play continues tomorrow as the Crusaders host third place Schreiner. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m. from the Maher Center.