HCU Huskies down Lamar Cardinals 37-34

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly 

Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved 

 
BEAUMONT, TEXAS (October 1, 2022) The Houston Christian University Huskies picked up their second win of the season, and move to 1-0 in Southland Conference play as a results of their 37-34 win over the Lamar Cardinals at Provost Umphrey Stadium on Saturday. With the victory, The Huskies move to 3-4 lifetime against the Cardinals send sets up their second conference matchup of the season against the Nicholls Colonels on Saturday, October 8 at Husky Stadium in Houston.

The Huskies jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter when the Lamar offense could not hold onto the ball, allowing HCU to recover two fumbles and return them for touchdowns. The first occurred at 13:30 mark when Cardinal running back Damashja Harris lost the ball at the 18-yard line. An alert Rodney Dansby picked up the ball and rambled the 18 yards to the endzone for the score. Kicker Alberto Arroyo added the extra point to put the Huskies up 7-0.  

After the kickoff, Lamar started the next drive and advanced the ball to their own 45-yard line when wide receiver Jalen Dumment was tackled for a five-yard loss. The tackle by Vernon Harrell allowed Coi Miller to pick up the fumble and rush the 45 yards to the endzone for the second HCU touchdown of the day.  Arroyo again added the kicking conversion to give the Huskies a 14-0 lead with 12:06 left in the first half. 

 
Lamar jumped right back into the game, when kickoff return specialist Damashja Harris received the ball on the goal line and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown. The return established a new program record for the Cardinals. 

The Huskies came back with 10 more points in the second quarter to increase their lead to 24-7 at halftime. The first of the 10 points came when Justin Fomby found wide receiver Kyle Reynolds open in the flat and connected with a 28-yard pass for the score. Arroyo again added the extra point, along with a 34-yard field goal, at the 2:11 mark of the quarter to close out the first-half scoring. 

 
In the third quarter, the Huskies continued their scoring assault when Kari Reynolds caught a 40-yard Fomby pass for another six points, along with an additional Arroyo extra point to cap a three-play, 55-yard drive. The Fomby-to-Raynolds combo again scored a touchdown at the 7:20 mark (a three-yard pass). The conversion attempt by Hutton Haire failed, making the score 37-7 in favor of the Huskies. 

 
Lamar cut the Husky lead to 23 when quarterback Mike Chandler was being pressured and threw up a desperation pass, which was caught by Devyn Gibbs, on a lunge; and fell into the endzone for the score. Chris Esqueda kicked the conversion to complete a six-play, 70-yard drive that lasted 2:53. 

In the fourth quarter, Lamar took advantage of the Huskies not achieving a first down on four consecutive possessions to score an additional 14 points; and cut their deficit to 10 points. The scored at the 10:16 mark to complete a six-play, 36-yard drive in addition to a nine-play, 77-yard drive with 5:56 remaining in the game.

The Cardinals were not going to stop their comeback attempt when Chandler, from a no huddle shotgun position, kept the ball and carried the ball the final 13 yards of a 68-yard drive for the score; cutting the HCU lead to three. After an onside kick,, the Huskies recovered the attempt and played the ball for four plays; and punting to Lamar; giving the Cardinals the ball on their own five-yard line with 25 seconds remaining, After four quick plays, the clock ran out, with HCU securing the three-point win.

HBU Huskies to face Toledo Rockets in first round of WNIT

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

AKRON, OHIO (March 18, 2022) The HBU Huskies women's basketball team will face the Toledo Rockets at 6 p.m. CT at Akron's Savage Arena in the first round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). The Huskies were the Southland Conference regular season champions and had an early exit from the conference tournament to eventual champions Incarnate Word Lady Cardinals, dropping their semifinal game 54-33.

The Huskies were 16-10 for the 2022 season with a 12-2 conference record and will be facing a 26-5 Toledo team who was 19-1 in conference play before going 1-1 in the Mid-America Conference tournament. They dropped a 71-66 decision to Ball State. The WNIT first round match-up will be the first meeting between the two squads and the first NCAA post-season appearance for the Huskies. 

The Huskies are led by Southland Conference Player of the Year Timia Jefferson who averaged 12.7 points per game for the season. She was aided by N'Denasija Collins, who averaged 9.4 points per game while pulling in 6.4 rebounds and shooting 35 percent from the field. Marilyn Nzoiwu pulled down 7.4 rebounds per game to lead HBU. Abbey Sutherland is tied with Nzoiwu for the team lead in blocks with 32.

Toledo was led this season by Quenesha Lockett who averaged 17.5 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Rockets. Sophia Wiard drops in 12.8 points per game for Toledo and leads the rockets in assists with 137.

The game can be viewed on ESPN3.

HBU falls to UTSA in college baseball action

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 15, 2022) The HBU Huskies scored four runs in the fourth inning, but they were not enough to overcome a late UTSA surge and dropped a 10-5 decision to the Roadrunners at Husky Field on Tuesday.

The Huskies were paced by shortstop Diego Davila who went went 4-for-5 with two RBI along with leftfielder Connor Fremin walked, was hit by a pitch and scored twice. Junior catcher Parker Edwards was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and scored a run.

 
Daniel Garza (1-0) earned the win, shutting the Huskies out on two hits with four strikeout and no walks over the final three innings.
 
Flores' two-run homer put UTSA ahead 3-1 in the third.
 
HBU rallied for four runs in the fifth, including Edwards giving the Huskies the lead with an RBI single and senior rightfielder Lane Botkin getting hit by a pitch with the bases load for a 5-3 lead.
 
UTSA took advantage of five walks in the seventh, scoring on a sacrifice fly and a bases loaded free pass to tie it, 5-5. Poston then delivered a two-run, go-ahead single in the eighth and Bailey added a two-run triple in the ninth.
 
HBU returns to action when it travels to face Michigan State in a three-game series Friday through Sunday in East Lansing.

HBU downs UIW in first round of Southland Conference tournament

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly 

Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

KATY, TEXAS (March 9, 2022) The No. 5 seeded HBU Huskies advanced to the second round of the 2022 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament with a 74-64 win over the Incarnate Word Cardinals at the Leonard E. Merrell Center.

The Huskies, who raised their season record 11-17, shot 59% from the field and was paced by Khristion Courseault, who put up 19 points, shooting 8-of-12 from the field. Fellow starters Darious Lee, Sam Hofman, and Brycen Long also tallied double digits, with Lee adding 17 points, while Hofman and Long adding 11 each. Lee also recorded his sixth double-double of the season; pulling down 10 rebounds. Hofman also has 10 RBs, earning his second double-double of the season.

The number 8 seeded Cardinals had four players scoring in double digits. Drew Lutz led the way with 18 points, followed by Josh Morgan (17), RJ Glasper (12), and Brandon Swaby (10). UIW shot 41% from the field, 93% from the line, and 36% from the arc.

HBU pulled out to its largest lead of the game, 13 points, with 3:17 remaining in the game. The Cardinals were able to cut the Husky lead, but it was not enough, with HBU winning by 10. The Huskies also led the game with the lead (22:22), points in the paint, 46-22, second chance points (8-2), fast break points (8-5) and bench points (8-7). 

Incarnate Word finished the season with a 7-25 record in their last game in the Southland Conference, Next season, they will be joining the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). 

With the victory, HBU advanced to the second round of the tournament on Friday, March 10 where they will face the winner of McNeese State Cowboys vs. Northwestern State Demons matchup.

HBU downs Prairie View A&M 9-1 in softball action

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 5, 2022) The HBU Huskies downed Prairie View A&M by the score of 9-1 in a shortened run-rule game at Husky Softball Field on Saturday. 

The Huskies started their scoring run in the first inning when Jasie Roberts tripled, sending two runners home, to give HBU a 2-0 lead. The score would remain at 2-0 until the fifth inning when the Huskies tallied RBIs from Baylee Chanmdler, Riley Martin, Justice Palmer, and Sarah Venker to push the score to 7-0. The Panthers scored a single run in the sixth inning, while HBU added two runs off a Martin triple to complete scoring.

The win pushed the Huskies to 9-7 while the loss dropped the Panthers to 0-17. HBU will finish the series on Sunday with a 1:30 p.m. CT first pitch against Brown.

HBU falls to New Orleans 81-65 in Southland Conference Tip-Off

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

KATY, TEXAS (January 7, 2021) Despite a strong comeback in the second half, the HBU Huskies dropped their second-round game in the Southland Conference Tip-Off Event by the score of 81-65 to the New Orleans Privateers.

The game, which is e Leonard E. Merrell Center in Katy, Texas saw the Huskies (4-7) shot 36% from the field, which was lower than their 42% prior to the match. Four Huskies
scored double figures; with Darius Lee leading the way with 18 points, followed by Zion Tordoff and Brycen Long (shown above) with 12 each. Rounding out the double-digit scorers was Khristion Courseault with 11. Lee also tallied eight rebounds.

The Privateers led the majority of the game with 38 minutes, 52 seconds of possession with three players scoring double figures; Derek St. Hilaire (17), Daniel Sackley (13), and Troy Green with 12. 

Next up for HBU is a 11 a.m. CT on Saturday (January 8) meeting with the loser of the Incarnate Word vs. Northwestern State, with the New Orleans facing the winner at 1:30 p.m. CT.

HBU Huskies fall to Oklahoma Sooners, 57-40

Story and photo by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

NORMAN, OKLAHOMA (November 24, 2021) The HBU Huskies jumped out to a 27-22 lead over the Oklahoma Sooners at halftime but were unable to retain the lead in the second half and as a result, dropped a 57-40 decision at the Lloyd Noble Center.

The Huskies shot 57% in the first half but could manage only 5-of-27 (18%) in the second. That, in addition to the Sooners shooing 44% in the last 20 minutes, sealed the loss for HBU.

Starting forward Zion Tordoff tallied 11 points for the Huskies, followed by starting guard Jade Tse with nine points. Darius Lee pulled down eight rebounds with Za-Ontay Boothman recorded two assists. HBU largest lead was at the 2:49 point of the first half, where they recorded a nine point lead (27-18).

Turnovers played a major role in the loss, with the Huskies turning over the ball 21 times to the Sooners. The loss pushed HBU to a 1-4 record, with their only win coming on November 11 at home against Barclay, 122-44.

HBU will play their next four games in the friendly confines of Sharp Gymnasium in Houston, where they will face Southwestern Adventist on November 29, followed by Oral Roberts on December 4. They will take on Champion Christian (December 7), followed by a meeting with crosstown foe Rice on December 11.

Oklahoma, with the win, climbed to 5-1 on the season. They were led by senior Elijah Harkness with 13 points and nine rebounds. He was followed by senior Jordan Goldwire with 11 points.

HBU Huskies drop season finale to Incarnate Word 44-14

Photo by Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography, Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 20, 2021) The HBU Huskies scored 14 points in the second quarter, but it was not enough to overcome a 35-0 deficit in the first quarter as they dropped their season finale by the score of 55-14 to the Incarnate Word Cardinals at Husky Stadium in Houston.

The Husky scores both came in the second quarter; the first by Ean Beck (Taylor High School; Katy, Texas). The senior running back carried the ball the final two yards of a 75 yard drive for the first Husky touchdown at the 13:27 mark of the quarter.  The second score came with 7:10 remaining in the half. Sophomore safety Corey Smooth snagged  Cardinal pass and returned it 36 yards for the score. Gino Garcia scored both kicking conversions to secure HBU's final points of the season.

The Huskies finish the season with a 0-11record and will use the upcoming off-season to recover from this season's inquiries and to fill key openings in their roster due to graduation.

With the win, the Cardinals take the Southland Conference title and the automatic qualifying spot to the NCAA FCS playoffs, Incarnate Word will face former Southland Conference member Stephen F Austin at home on Saturday, November 27.

HBU Huskies fall to McNeese State in Southland Conference action

Photo courtesy of
HBU Athletics Media Relations
Used with permission

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 23, 2021) The HBU Huskies battled back from trailing 38-29 at half to lead by 11 at the 13:16 mark of the second half. However that lead was erased as the Huskies fell to the McNeese State Cowboys by the score of 74-71 at Sharp Gymnasium. HBU held a two-point lead (68-66) with 2:55 remaining in the game, with the Cowboys outscoring the Huskies eight to three in the final minutes.

Zach Iyeyemi (archive photo, shown above) posted 17 points to lead the Huskies in scoring, with Pedro Castro and Brysen Long adding 16 points each. Iyeyemi also pulled down five rebounds. HBU shot 45% (27-of-59) from the field and 87% (7-of-8) from three-point range, while connecting on 10-of 28 (35%) from the free-throw line.

The Huskies will hit the road for their next four games beginning this coming Wednesday, Jan. 27, with a trip to San Antonio, Texas to face Incarnate Word at 7:00 p.m.

 

Southland, HBU Baseball Move to 40-Game League Schedule for 2021

Huskies will play 14 non-conference games, only two midweeks

FRISCO, TEXAS (January 17, 2021) The Southland Conference Board of Directors has approved a modified schedule format for the 2021 baseball conference season in which member institutions will play 40 league games. Each of the school’s 10 previously-scheduled weekend series will expand from a three-game series to four games.

In addition to the 40 conference games, HBU will play 14 non-conference games, with only two midweek games. The Huskies open the 2021 season on Friday, Feb. 19, first against Little Rock at 2:30 p.m., then against Rice at 6:30 p.m., with both games played at the Owls’ Reckling Park.

 

HBU will open its home schedule with a three-game series against Portland Feb. 26-28. The Huskies will then play five-straight non-conference games on the road with a Tuesday matchup against Texas A&M on March 2, a three-game series at Louisiana March 5-7, then the final Tuesday game of the season at Rice on March 9.

 

Southland Conference play begins on the road at New Orleans March 12-14, followed by a home series against McNeese March 19-21. HBU’s last non-conference games will be in a three-game home series against Oral Roberts April 9-11, then the Huskies are scheduled to play 24-straight conference games to close out the season. The Southland Conference Tournament has been moved back to an eight-team format at a site to be determined May 26-29.

 

The format for each conference series will include a nine-inning game on Friday and on Sunday and a doubleheader Saturday with game one played to seven innings and game two to nine innings. Should game one of the doubleheader go to extra innings, game two would become a seven-inning contest.

 

The presidents and athletic directors also approved a participation minimum of 24 student-athletes, which must include 13 pitchers and 11 positions players (two of which must be catchers). Should a team drop below the minimum, coaches have the discretion to play a four-game series or revert to a three-game series by mutual agreement.

HBU's Darius Lee Named Southland Player of the Week

Junior Darius Lee scored 30 points in HBU’s win over Northwestern State

Photo courtesy of
HBU Media Relations Department
Used with permission

FRISCO, TEXAS (January 5, 2021)  HBU junior Darius Lee has earned Player of the Week recognition from the Southland Conference for his double-double performance this past Saturday against Northwestern State.

Lee finished the Huskies’ 99-93 overtime victory over the Demons with career-highs of 30 points and 10 rebounds while also dishing out three assists with a blocked shot and a steal in 28 minutes off the bench. He went 9-of-14 from the floor, 2-of-4 from three-point range and knocked down 10-of-11 from the free throw line.

After scoring nine in the first half and the Huskies trailing by seven at the break, Lee erupted for 16 in the second half and made a pair of free throws with two seconds left in regulation to tie the game and send it to overtime. He then scored five in the overtime period, including a pair of crucial free throws with 25 seconds left that pushed the HBU advantage to four.

Lee is now averaging 9.4 points per game and is shooting 57.1 percent (28-of-49) from the floor, 64.3 percent (9-of-14) from three and 90.9 percent (22-of-22) from the charity stripe.

HBU Huskies women's basketball kicks off season with 83-54 loss to Rice Owls

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 25. 2020) The HBU Huskies women's basketball team led the Rice Owls after 10 minutes of play and trailed their cross-town opponents by four at the half, however a second half scoring drought left them short at the end of the game, as they dropped a 83-54 to the Owls at Tudor Fieldhouse in Houston.

HBU jumped out to a 17-16 lead after the first quarter, with N'Denasija Collins accounting for seven of the Huskies' 1st quarter points. The Owls rebounded in the second quarter, outscoring the Huskies 14-9 to take a 30-26 lead at halftime. Then Rice got their bearings, outscoring the Huskies 20-18 in the third quarter and 24-10 in the final period in route to downing HBU.

The Huskies were led by Abbey Sutherland with 15 points, nine of them from three-point range. HBU head coach Donna Finnie stated after the game "I thought Abbey did pretty good defensively and offensively."

Sutherland was joined in double figures by Collins, with 10 points,. Marilyn Nzoiwu led HBU with seven rebounds.

Rice had four players in double figures; led by center Nancy Mulkey with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Also scoring in double figures for the Owls was Arianna McCurry (12 points), Katelyn Crosthwait (12 points) and Haylee Swayze (11 points).

Finnie added, "We knew these were going to be two tough games to open the season (Rice and Texas Tech). We know basically what  we have to work on after today so we got to do a better job and keep looking for improvement. We are not going to see anyone in our conference that looks like this (Rice) or Texas Tech."

The Huskies will next face Texas Tech on Saturday, November 28 in Lubbock with a 2 p.m. tipoff.

HBU Huskies to face TCU Horned Frogs in first game of college basketball season for both schools

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 24, 2020) The HBU Huskies men's basketball team kicks off their 2020-2021 season with a Wednesday, November 25 meeting against the TCU Horned Frogs at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST. The Huskies, who are led by head coach Ron Cottrell, are returned seven lettermen from the 2019-2020, where they posted a 4-25 record, along with a 4-16 mark in Southland Conference play.

TCU comes into the game with a 16-16 record last season, finishing in seventh place in the Big 12 Conference. The Huskies and Horned Frogs have faced off seven times previously, with TCU coming out on top in six of those games; including a 90-63 win on November 19, 2017 in Fort Worth.

The game will be televised on the Big 12 Now channel on ESPN+.  Audio can be heard on the Husky Sports Network ar  HBUHuskies.com/Husky Sports Network with Lonnie King behind the microphone. Live game stats can be followed at  GoFrogs.com.

HBU's Christopher Welch named to All-America Team

Photo courtesy of HBU Athletic Media Relations Department

By Jennifer Edwards

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (June 27, 2020) A shortened indoor track season could not stop Dickinson native, Christopher Welch (shown right) from excelling in the  triple jump. Welch set an Houston Baptist University record by jumping 15.64 meters or 51 feet and 3.75 inches at the Texas A&M Invitational. He continued his winning ways by completing a 15.94 meter jump. In total, Welch has broken the school record seven times. 

This sophomore standout is used to the spotlight and incredibly humble when it comes to his talent. Welch stood out on the Dickinson Gator football team as an all-district kicker and wide receiver. Once football season was over, his focus turned quickly to track and field where he excelled. In addition to the accolades he has already racked up, Christopher received the NCAA All-American in the triple jump, as well as a silver medal in Southland Conference Indoor Championships and became the first HBU indoor championship qualifier. 

Welch is incredibly humble when it comes to where he gets his talent from. He says, “When I got the confirmation that I was an All-American I was very thankful, because I’ve always known that it was going to happen and it was what I prayed for when I first got to college.” Welch hopes to continue his winning ways at HBU in the future when the university is able to safely bring athletes back. He also says,” Just knowing that God’s promise to me was fulfilled it gave me the motivation, so that next year I would not only be an All-American, but also become a National Champion.” This young man will be one to watch in the future