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HOUSTON – In the first game of 2022, the HBU men's basketball team never trailed in defeating visiting Ecclesia, 94-63, on Monday evening inside Sharp Gym in the team's last non-conference home game of the season.
 
The Huskies (4-6) came out firing and took an 8-0 lead just over two minutes into the game. Ecclesia (6-5) scored the next six to pull within two and at the 12:53 mark of the half a Jaquan Dotson three made it a 12-11 ballgame. A 10-0 HBU run that included five points from Hunter Janacek gave the Huskies a 12-point cushion less than three minutes later. HBU held a double-digit lead the rest of the half and led by as many as 22 before taking a 48-27 lead into the locker room at the half.
 
In the second half, the HBU lead grew to 30 within five minutes and remained in the 30s for the final 13:51 of the game. Brycen Long and Tristan Moore combined to score 19 in the second period.
 
Za-Ontay Boothman led the Huskies with 14 points and matched a career-best with four assists. Long and Moore both scored 12 with Long recording four steals. Zach Iyeyemi also scored 12 and pulled down six rebounds. Freshman Deshon Proctor led the Huskies with eight rebounds, five on the offensive end, and scored 11.
 
The Huskies shot 51.6 percent (32-of-62) from the floor, 35.5 percent (11-of-31) from three and connected on 19-of-27 (70.4 percent) from the foul line. On the boards, HBU held a 43-29 advantage and forced 20 turnovers while committing 15. Ecclesia shot 41.4 percent (24-of-58)
 
The Southland Conference Basketball Tip-Off Event is up next for HBU, a three-day tournament featuring all eight of the league's teams. The Huskies open the event at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6, against Southeastern in Katy, Texas at the Merrell Center, the site of the 2021-22 SLC Tournament.