Follow @HBUBasketball

NATCHITOCHES, La. – Senior Anthony Odunsi recorded a career-high 27 points and the HBU men's basketball team drained 10 3-pointers in cruising to a 99-73 victory in their Southland Conference opener at Northwestern State on Saturday afternoon inside Prather Coliseum.
 
Odunsi finished 7-for-11 from the floor with a pair of hits from distance to compliment an 11-for-12 showing at the free throw line for HBU (6-7, 1-0 SLC). The native of Sugar Land, Texas, was one of five Huskies to record double figures against the Demons (3-8, 0-1 SLC), as junior Reveal Chukwujekwu (16) and senior Jourdan Stickler (15), also turned in career scoring performances. Sophomore Josh Ibarra (13) and junior Alex Fountain (10) both eclipsed double figures.
 
Junior Colter Lasher and freshman Isaiah Robinson led all at the glass, each recording eight rebounds, respectfully. Robinson also added four blocks.
 
HBU shot 51.5 percent (34-66) from the field, 43.5 percent (10-23) from beyond the arc and 87.5 percent (21-24) at the line. The team's 10 3-pointers against NSU is the most since the 2013-14 season when the Huskies hit 13 treys against Arlington Baptist (Feb. 25, 2014).
 
HBU outscored the Demons 40-22 in the paint, 22-8 off turnovers and 14-2 in fast break points.
 
The Huskies jumped out to a 5-0 lead early, holding the NSU without a made basket for the first 3:36, before the Demons closed the gap with a 10-4 surge over the next 2:31 to take their first lead. However, the advantage was short-lived, as freshman Asa Cantwell hit his first shot off the bench, connecting from distance, and Odunsi (1) and Ibarra (2) converted three layups to take a 18-10 edge at the 11:37 mark.
 
Both teams exchanged runs several times over the remaining 11-plus minutes of the opening half. Trailing 30-29 with 4:54 before the break, Fountain singlehandedly gave HBU a 5-0 surge with a pair of hits from the charity stripe and one 3-pointer to reclaim the advantage, 34-30. After the two teams traded baskets to push the score to 37-34, the Huskies turned in a perfect 4-for-4 showing from the line, capped off with a jumper from Chukwujekwu down the stretch to enter the lockerroom up 43-38.
 
NSU opened the second half on a 4-0 spurt, but the Huskies silenced any attempt of a comeback, scoring 10 straight points as part of a 15-2 run over a 1:38 span to take a 58-45 lead. HBU went on to lead by as much as 28, coming in the final two minutes, in taking the 99-73 final with ease.
 
The win marks Huskies' second over the Demons as conference foes and first when visiting NSU. The victory is also the first conference-opening victory for the program as member of the Southland.
 
HBU will now return home for a three-game homestand, welcoming McNeese State (Jan. 5), Southeastern Louisiana (Jan. 9) and Nicholls (Jan. 13) to Houston where the Huskies are 5-0 inside Sharp Gym on the season.

Postgame Quotes – Head Coach Ron Cottrell
Opening comments…
"Any time you can win in conference on the road, you count that as like a double win. To get one on the road against a quality opponent really sets the stage for the games we have coming up. I was really pleased with the way the guys came out focused and ready to play. We executed the game plan defensively about as well as we could've asked.

Early on, we got the ball inside and made them try and guard Josh (Ibarra), which opened up shots for other guys. Then, in the second half we really caught fire."
 
On Anthony Odunsi's performance…
"He is understanding how to get his shots out of our system and off of other people's efforts. He knows the guys are willing to run plays to get him those looks, knowing that he is going to knock down shots and open things up for them as well. It plays hand in hand and was very complimentary tonight with five guys finishing in double figures."
 
On upcoming three-game conference homestand…
"We've got to take these games one at a time. We have McNeese State on Tuesday night. They're going to be a high-quality opponent that is ready to play, and just how a conference win on the road can feel like a double win, a conference loss at home can count two as well.

"We've got to defend out home court, but it is important for everyone to understand the importance of their attendance. With it still being a holiday break and the students being gone, we need everybody we can get to come out. Sharp Gym is a tough place for opponents to play and the fans are very much a part of that. I want to encourage everybody to come support these guys. They are a fun group to watch."