AUSTIN, Texas – The Concordia Texas men's basketball team scored the final seven points of the game to earn an 87-80 win over Hardin-Simmons Saturday afternoon inside Concordia Fieldhouse. 
 
Joe Neal produced his third double-double in his past five games to help CTX move to 8-9 on the year and 6-2 in American Southwest Conference play. The win also gives the Tornados a two game lead for first place in the ASC West Division.
 
In a game that saw 10 lead changes, five ties and neither team lead by more than nine points, CTX was able to pull away late and earn their fifth straight victory.
 
With the score tied at 14 in the first half, the Cowboys went on a quick 9-0 run to take a 23-14 lead. The Tornados answered, however, with a 10-1 run of their own to tie the game at 24.
 
The two teams traded buckets for the rest of the first stanza, with HSU hitting a 3-pointer with seven seconds to go to send the teams into the locker room knotted at 37.
 
The beginning of the second half was more of the same, with neither team leading by more than five points.
 
Trailing 66-62 with 7:29 left to play, Neal began to take over. CTX went on a quick 8-0 highlighted by six straight points from the senior out of Houston. Neal finished the game with 20 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and has now scored at least 20 points in six of his past eight contests.
 
The final 1:02 of the game belonged to the Tornados as Neal, DeTarrius Kirk and Spencer Bone all nailed huge buckets as a part of a 7-0 run down the stretch to seal the win. 
 
Kirk, a senior from Dallas, finished the game with 16 points and six boards. Tommy Holiday was also fantastic for the Tornados, scoring 11 points, pulling down six rebounds and going a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line.
 
The Tornados will return to action next Saturday as they take on Mary Hardin-Baylor at 3:00 p.m. inside Concordia Fieldhouse.