HOUSTON – Behind senior
Bonke Maring's 30 point-15 rebound effort the HCU men's basketball team dropped Southwestern Adventist by a 94-62 final on Sunday afternoon inside Sharp Gym. Houston Christian University (HCU), formerly Houston Baptist University (HBU), underwent a name change in September 2022.
Maring set new career-highs of 30 points, 15 rebounds and six assists while matching his career-bests with four steals and two blocked shots in 32 minutes on the floor. He finished 14-of-22 from the floor and is now shooting 61.7 percent from the floor for the season.
Freshman
Anthony Harris Jr. saw his first meaningful minutes on the floor since joining the team after spending the fall as a wide receiver on the Huskies' football team. In 23 minutes off the bench, he finished with 12 points on 6-of-9 shooting and added six rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots.
Andrew King posted his first career double-double with 12 points and a career-high 10 rebounds paired with six assists and a pair of steals.
Pierce Bazil added 16 points while
Maks Klanjscek had 15 points and four assists.
HCU (2-7) scored the game's first six points and got out to a 19-6 lead before the second media timeout. The Knights (0-5) cut into that lead as the half wore on with a Billy Could three-pointer at the 4:08 mark making it just a 30-25 game. The Huskies then clamped down defensively, finishing the final four minutes with a 14-0 run to lead 44-25 at the half.
SWAU got as close as 13 in the early part of the second half but HCU enjoyed a 33-9 stretch over the course of eight minutes and led by 42, 90-48, with just 4:36 left to play.
The Huskies out-scored the Knights 68-28 in the paint and turned 24 SWAU turnovers into 30 points. HCU held a 47-29 advantage on the boards. HCU shot 52.6 percent (41-of-78) from the field.
HCU has a quick turnaround for its next game, a Tuesday, Dec. 6, meeting with Maine at Fort Kent in Sharp Gym at 7:00 p.m.
