Tracking down tournament wins
Houston Baptist’s Anthony Odunsi, right, beats Southeastern Louisiana’s Marlain Veal to the ball in the Huskies’ 73-68 victory in the Southland tournament. Baylor beat Texas in the Big 12.
KATY — Houston Baptist relies heavily on its outside shooting and penetration from guard Anthony Odunsi. But the Huskies had to overcome some struggles Thursday to stay alive in the Southland Conference tournament at Merrell Center.
Guard Asa Cantwell and his HBU teammates shook off a slow start from the field and an early second-half run by Southeastern Louisiana to prevail 73-68 in the quarterfinal game.
“Coach (Ron Cottrell) said shoot it every time if we’re open,” said Cantwell, who made five of nine 3-pointers en route to 15 points. “If I’m open, I’m going to shoot it.”
The victory for fourthseed HBU, which led 33-20 at halftime, earned the Huskies a Friday semifinal matchup with top-seeded Stephen F. Austin.
But Thursday’s win did not come easily. There were 14 lead changes, and the Huskies had to withstand a 17-1 Lions run to open the second half.
HBU, which made only one of its first 11 3-pointers, made enough in the game (11-of-32) to open up the inside for Odunsi, a first-team all-conference selection, to take it to the basket and draw fouls.
“Once I started making shots, I could get Anthony going,” said Cantwell, who made three 3-pointers in the final 2:01 of the first half as the Huskies ended the half on a 9-0 run.
Odunsi was 12-for-12 from the foul line. His two free throws with 6:49 remaining gave HBU (17-15) the lead for good at 52-51. A 3-pointer from Colter Lasher followed, and the Huskies were on their way.
“Coach and my teammates trust me,” said Odunsi, who collected 20 points and nine rebounds. “At the end of the game, they’re going to get the ball in my hands. They did a good job of putting me in that situation.”
Added Cottrell: “Any time you can get the ball into Anthony’s hands going down the stretch, you know you have a good shot of going to the freethrow line.”
In the latter stages of the game, Lasher made two big 3-pointers en route to an 11-point, eightrebound performance. Isaiah Robinson, a 6-10 freshman, came up big for the Huskies, blocking six shots and grabbing 12 rebounds.
“We had a lot of guys step and that’s what you have to have happen in tournament time,” Cottrell said.
Jordan Capps had a team-high 23 points with 10 rebounds for the Lions (12-21).
SAM HOUSTON ST. 60 NICHOLLS ST. 59
Dakarai Henderson’s driving layup in the final second lifted the Bearkats to a dramatic win over the Colonels in a quarterfinal matchup.
Henderson’s heroics came after a 3-pointer from T.J. Carpenter gave Nicholls State a 59-58 lead with 5.9 seconds remaining.
“It feels great when you win a buzzer-beater,” said Aurimas Majauskas, whose hook shot gave the Bearkats a 58-56 lead with 15 seconds left.
Sam Houston State (18-14) keeps its cool at the end.
“Nobody panicked,” Henderson said. “I knew what time was left on the clock. Jamal (Williams) saw me and he gave me a perfect pass.”