HOUSTON --- Houston Christian University built up a big halftime lead then held off a furious second-half surge to capture an 83-79 victory over East Texas A&M University at Sharp Gymnasium Thursday night in the Southland Conference opener for both clubs. HCU never trailed in the contest and led as many as 15 in the second half but watched that lead dwindle all the way to two before Julian Mackey hit six straight free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.
 
The two teams would start methodically, each trying to feel things out . Bryson Dawkins hit two three-pointers in the first three minutes, and a three-point play by Elijah Brooks would give HCU the early 9-6 lead. After ETAMU's Scooter Williams, Jr. hit two charity shots to cut the lead to one, the Huskies began to make their move, begun by back-to-back dunks by Dawkins and Brooks with just under six minutes gone.
 
The lead would reach double-digits a few moments later, as Porter Bazil sandwiched two buckets around a layup by Dawkins to hand HCU a 24-12 lead just before the eight-minute media. The Lions would retaliate, putting together a quick 8-2 burst, capped by a three-ball from Yusek Salih to cut the lead back to six, 26-20 with 6:08 left in the first frame.
 
HCU would respond to that run with one of it's own, as a three-pointer from Pierce Bazil was followed by another layup from Dawkins, pushing the advantage up to 12, 36-24 with 3:13 to go before the break. Trent Johnson then nailed a three-ball on the fast break moments later to give HCU it's largest lead of the first half at 43-28 with 57 seconds to play. The hosts would carry a 45-31 lead into the break.
   
After Bryson Dawkins carried the load in the first half with 16 points, it was Julian Mackey's turn in the second. After a Dawkins three to open the half pushed the lead to 15, the Huskies would keep the Lions right there. The home advantage would stay at nine or more for the first eight minutes of the half, and five straight points by Mackey on a trey followed by a jumper pushed the lead to 12 with just over 12 to play.
 
Yusef Salih hit another three-pointer to cap a quick 8-2 burst for the Lions, drawing them to within six. Mackey answered quickly with a strong drive to the paint for a highlight reel reverse, getting the hoop and harm to jettison HCU back up nine at the 11:19 mark of the second. The lead would continue to stay at nine for another five minutes before East Texas made their final push.
   
A layup in the paint by TJ Thomas was followed by yet another triple from Salih, getting the Lions to the closest they'd been since the opening seconds of the game, trailing 66-63 with still five and change to play. Mackey answered again with a three from the corner and a tip-in at the 3:23 mark by Peyton Rogers got the Huskies back up eight and seemingly out of the woods.
 
Not quite done, the Lions kept clawing. Three free throws by Scooter Williams Jr. and a jumper in the paint by Demarco Bethea got the lead down to five with 1:40 to go, and the visitors just kept coming. Twice the lead would be cut to three, and a three-ball by TJ Thomas with nine seconds to go got ETAMU to within a basket.

Each time the Lions scored, Julian Mackey responded at the free throw line. He would hit seven of eight in the final minute, including the final six he took, none bigger than two with four ticks left to seal the hard-earned victory.
 
It was a fitting end to the first conference game of the season, a victory that snapped a four-game skid for the Huskies, with all four of those games decided by a total of 14 points. HCU found a way on this night however, holding on down the stretch after posting its best night of the season shooting on all three fronts. HCU shot a season-best 52% from the floor, hit 9-17 from the arc for 53% and hit at a 77% clip from the charity stripe, which offset a season-high 17 turnovers.
 
Bryson Dawkins posted a career-best 22 points for the Huskies to lead a trio of double-digit scorers, while also tying for team-high honors with a career-high seven boards. The Dothan, Alabama native also set a new personal high with his four three-pointers made on the evening. 

Julian Mackey put up all 20 of his points in the second half for his third-straight 20-point night, finishing a career-best 10-11 from the foul line. Elijah Brooks had 12 points, while Trent Johnson had a career-high nine points and four boards. Peyton Rogers had seven boards and tied with Ivan Reynolds with a team-high three assists.
 
ETAMU put four in double-digits, paced by Scooter Williams Jr., who also went 10-11 from the stripe as part of his 16-point night. TJ Thomas and Yusef Salih each had 15, with Thomas holding game-high honors with his seven assists and Salih going 4-10 from deep. The Lions went just 7-27 from deep on the night in falling to 1-8 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
 
The Huskies improve to 3-6 overall and 1-0 in the Southland. HCU was one of five teams to win on a crazy opening night of league play, as all five games were decided by four points or less. HCU finishes the quick two-game SLC homestand with a 3:30 pm tilt against Northwestern State on Saturday afternoon. The Demons captured a win in their opener on Thursday, holding UIW scoreless over the final two minutes to claim a 72-70 victory in San Antonio.
 
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