Jan. 29, 2003

ABILENE, Texas - Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team will be looking to break a seven-game losing streak when it plays host to Schreiner and Texas Lutheran Universities this weekend in American Southwest Conference West Division play. The Cowboys will be looking for its first home and conference victories of the season. The Cowboys next win will double the win total from a year ago.

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About Hardin-Simmons

HSU played two of the top teams in the conference tough in home losses last week. The Cowboys played preseason favorite Howard Payne to eight points after trailing by as many as 23 and they lost by 15 to conference-leader Sul Ross State. HSU is led by the senior trio of Jordan Clower, Jason Eaker and Bryan Conover. Conover had a pair of double-doubles last week and Clower scored 41 points in the two games. Eaker led the team with 23 points against Sul Ross State. HSU has also been getting solid play from its second five - Grant Justus, Len Williams, Weston Ryon, Adam Shoupe and Jonas Fuller.

About Schreiner

The Mountaineers won their first game of the season against Concordia-Austin in its last outing. They were 0-15 and 0-5 in conference play up to that point. Leading the way for first-year head coach Thirman Dimery is Brian Stickel, who averages 24.6 points and 8.1 rebounds. Justin Schwartz (11.3) and Jerel Hall (11.1) both average double figures.

About Texas Lutheran

Coach Tom Oswald's Bulldogs may be the surprise team of the conference. They are currently in second-place in the conference with a 4-2 mark and beat Mary Hardin-Baylor in their last game. They are currently riding a two-game winning streak. Sophomore Tommy Stolhandske leads the Bulldogs with 18.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Will Hudson averages 18.1 for 8-9 TLU.

Seniors Take Over Last Five

The Cowboys three seniors, Jason Eaker (12.2), Bryan Conover (15.4) and Jordan Clower (15.4), have all averaged in double figures in the last five contests. Conover is also averaging four assists and 7.2 rebounds in that span. All three had over 20 points in the loss to Sul Ross State.

In Conference Play

Jordan Clower leads the team wtih a 17.0 point per game average in just 23 minutes per game ... Weston Ryon is shooting 60 percent (9-for-15) from 3-point range ... The Cowboys are shooting 50.7 percent as a team and 44.2 percent from 3-point range.

Tough On the Boards

The Cowboys outrebounded its last two opponents Howard Payne and Sul Ross State. Those two teams rank 1-2 in the conference in rebounding.

What's Up Next

The Cowboys will flip over the ASC West schedule and will play McMurry on the road next Tuesday in the sixth annual Kiwanis Club Abilene Basketball Shootout. The Cowboys then hit the road for games at Schreiner and Texas Lutheran next weekend.