BOX SCORE

ALPINE, Texas -- It may not be the most convincing win for the Concordia University Texas men's basketball team, but it is a win.  The Tornados (16-9, 14-7 ASC) won their sixth straight contest with a 76-69 decision over Sul Ross State University on Saturday at the Pete P. Gallego Center.  Freshman guard #Nick Haynes# paced the Tornados with 15 points.

Concordia trailed by four (63-59) with 5:13 to play.  However, a three-pointer by Haynes cut the Lobos' (9-16, 8-13 ASC) lead to one with 4:51 left.  A pair of free throws by Ryan Hagan increased Sul Ross State's lead to three, but a three-pointer from #Larry Durand# tied the game at 65-65 with 3:37 to play.  The Lobos gained a one-point lead (66-65) as Hagan hit another free throw.

Nearly a minute and a half went by before either team could score.  #Reza Farahani# netted a lay up to put Concordia ahead by one (67-66) with 1:52 left.  The Tornados doubled their lead as Farahani completed a three-point play with a free throw, following the foul on the successful lay up.  46 seconds later the Tornados again doubled their lead as #Brad Walker# picked up his first two points of the game.  #Justin Reefer# put the Tornados up by six (72-66) with a lay up.  Steven Johunkin cut CTX's lead to four (72-68) with a jumper on a fastbreak with 28 seconds remaining.  Walker netted a free throw to push the Tornados back up by five (73-68) with 24 seconds left.

In the final 15 seconds, the Tornados outscored the Lobos 3-2, which helped CTX escape with a seven-point win.

All 15 of Haynes' points came by way of the three-point shot.  Haynes was 5-of-6 from beyond the arc.  Juniors #Jon Hutton# and Reefer also recorded double digits, scoring 11 and 10 points, respectively.

The 76 points by Concordia was its lowest scoring output since Jan. 28, when the Tornados lost to Hardin-Simmons University 83-72.  The Tornados did manage to shoot well on the day, however, hitting 56.3% percent of their shots.  It was their best shooting numbers since Nov. 24, 2009, a win at St. Edward's University when Concordia shot 59.3% from the field.

Johunkin led Sul Ross State with 19 points.

Both teams clinched spots in next weekend's conference tournament.  The Lobos will be heading as the number four seed in the West, while Concordia locked up the number three seed.  The Tornados will open up the conference tournament against Mississippi College, the number two seed from the East.  Tip time on Fri., Feb. 26, in Belton, is scheduled for 5 p.m.