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The Comets' improved defense alongside clutch free throws grasps victory from Hardin-Simmons Cowboys

The Comets, fresh off a Monday win against Concordia, continued their home stand in the homecoming game on Thursday, Feb. 10, facing off against HardinSimmons squad.

The Cowboys came into the match having won four of their last five games and averaging 83 points per game in the process. Entering the game, the Comets were fourth in the ASC standings and 1.5 games behind the third-place Hardin-Simmons, but seeking to make up ground as they march forward into a tournament run.

Upon tipoff came a very back-and-forth first half with turnovers occurring on both sides of the ball. Hardin-Simmons began to lose some ground with early foul trouble as the Comets were able to gain momentum with effective ball movement and many second chance points obtained within in the paint. The Comet’s defense shone, forcing

24 total turnovers in the game and allowing only 23 points in the first half. In addition, freshman forward Kameron Pruitt’s offensive play, with 12 points, five rebounds, and three steals in the first half sparked a sevenpoint lead going into the break.

The momentum from the Comet’s defense continued early on in the second half, with the team leading by as many as 12 points with 15 minutes to go in regulation. The Cowboys would not go down without a fight, however, scoring from outside the arc and forcing the Comets into difficult shots. Hardin-Simmons went on to score 14 unanswered points, including three consecutive threes from Chase Cobb, to take a 44-42 lead with 11 minutes left. Having four players in double figures enabled their late push as the Cowboys ultimately shot 51% as a team in the second half. But the real story of the game was the final five minutes, which were filled