Crusaders Grab 83-56 Win Over Arlington Baptist University in Season Opener
IRVING, Texas – The University of Dallas men's basketball team started the season 1-0 after beating Arlington Baptist University 83-56. Dallas shot 45.7% from the field and 39.4% (13-33) from behind the arc. After a 36-29 score at halftime, Dallas then found a 14-0 run early in the second half to push its largest lead to 33 points at one point. Sharp shooting from Michael Wambsganss (Denver, Colo.) and Dustin Mathis (Fort Worth, Texas) helped Dallas down the Patriots in the season-opener.
Wambsganss and Mathis scored the first six points of the game with back-to-back three pointers. ABU then answered with a three of their own. Later out of the timeout Wambsganss hit another three to give Dallas a 9-3 lead. After the under 12 media timeout, Jai Love (St. Louis, Mo.) dished out an assist with a nice bounce pass to the back post as Wamsganns converted the easy layup. A couple of free throws brought the Patriots back (17-13). Cameron Hyde later hit a two pointer to give Dallas a 24-13 advantage. Both teams traded three pointers as ABU made a run to make it 36-25. Missed opportunities on the offensive side of the court for UD helped spur a 4-0 ABU run to end the half. Both teams headed to the locker room with the Crusaders up 36-29. At the half Mathis and Jordan Williams paced their teams with 11 points each.
Jacob Giunta (Keller, Texas) hit a big three to open the second half. Da'vione Stafford completed a three-point play on the other end to pull the Patriots closer. Letrell Toussaint Waco, Texas) swatted a ball off the glass and Dallas found Love, who converted the easy lay-in up ahead to put Dallas up again by double-digits. Another ABU turnover led to a three-pointer by Mathis as the game was 47-36 at the under 16 timeout. Love layed in a shot and Mathis then drained another three off the Dallas miss and rebound. Cameron Hyde (Missouri City, Texas) hit a shot and helped UD go on a 14-0 run after two three's from Wambsganns. The drought continued for the Patriots until they hit a bucket at the 9:42 mark. It was 70-43 with under eight minutes to play. A three by Williams gave ABU a key bucket, but on the other side of court John Russell converted a three-point play the old fashioned way to give Dallas a 79-50 lead at the under four media timeout. Dallas emptied its bench in the final minutes as the team gathered up the 83-56 victory.
Four Crusaders reached double-digit points on the evening. Mathis led the quartet with 20 points, going 6-11 from behind the arc. Wambsganss notched 17 points, while Russell and Love both had 11 each. Love also dished out 11 assists to complete the double-double and was one rebound away from a triple-double. Toussaint came down with 11 boards to lead Dallas in that category. Giunta made his debut starting the game, playing 29 minutes and notching eight points for Dallas. Matt Holloway (Melissa, Texas) Exclamation Mark King (Lubbock, Texas), and Garrett Young (Texarkana, Texas), also made their collegiate debuts on the evening.
Williams paced ABU with 17 points and six assists. Stafford added 12 points and five rebounds. Holmes captured a team-high six boards from the bench.
SOCIAL MEDIA
#UDCrusaders Top Performers in Monday's Win!
— UDallas Athletics (@UDallasSports) November 12, 2019
- Mathis (20 pts., 7-13 FG, 6-11 3FG)
- Wambsganss (17 pts., 5-8 3FG)
- Love (11 pts., 11 ast., 9 reb.)
- Russell (11 pts., 7 reb.)#WeAreUD #d3hoops #UDallas pic.twitter.com/qBOLGBCUrT
UP NEXT
Dallas will host Hendrix College (AR) on Saturday in a non-conference tilt. First tip is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.