Box Score FARMERS BRANCH, Texas – The Dallas Christian men's basketball team grabbed another 20-point victory for the second straight game by toppling Southwestern Adventist University, 90-70, on Monday night in conference action. The Crusaders finished off a 3-1 home stand that included four games since Wednesday.
Dallas Christian had a similar formula to Saturday's win where the first half was tightly contested and then a big explosion in the second stanza. DCC tallied 51 points in the big frame and did most of the damage behind the three-point arc with a season-high 15 as a team. The Crusaders also benefitted from 23 steals, which they used a 29-7 advantage on points off turnovers.
It wasn't an easy start for the Crusaders, as has been the trend often times this season. Down 18-8, the home team was able to score eight straight points to pull within two. The Knights stretched the lead back to seven and then six. DCC fell behind five and then never trailed by more than one again. Versache Buchanan had a trey bring the score to 34-32, and then Tilyr Hobson forced a steal at midcourt and then was off to the races for a thunderous dunk that knotted things. Jordan Chambers followed on the next play with a steal and Hobson was fouled and hit both free throws.
Southwestern Adventist would hit a couple three-pointers to go up 40-39 at intermission. Even though the halftime score was almost even, the same theme this season for DCC seems to be the slow starts. Nick Erves acknowledged them, but says the team never feels like it is out of a game, just because of their resiliency.
"I think we are good at getting kicked down first and then coming back up in the second," Erves explained. "We try to perfect everything, get the energy up and I think it is just what we are good at, being a 2nd half team and close it out."
Erves was the leader on the team with 16 points and going an effective 7-for-11 from the field. He netted the first two DCC field goals of the second half and sparked an initial run to get the score to 49-42. After SWAU tried to reduce the margin, the Crusaders went up by double-digits as Moses Compton and Erves knocked in consecutive trifectas.
"Southwestern Adventist likes to run a lot of zone," Erves mentioned. "I like to come up in the middle, if I open in the mid-range I am pulling it. If I see one of my teammates on the backside, I am looking first for them but if my shot is open I am always looking to take it. Shoot first mentality."
The Crusaders put the game well out-of-reach with an eventual 27-8 run.
You can often hear the DCC bench chanting positive energy toward the players on the floor, as it was common for the bench to be heard saying "one more" for the ball handler to give the next pass. It led to 24 assists and helped the squad make a season-high 15 three-pointers.
"We always are looking to move the ball and hit the one more [man]," Erves said. "We were just knocking down shots tonight."
Micah Tucker added, "In practice we are consistently saying one more one more. We all know that we have 15 players that can go and get a basket every single time when we need it. We trust in each other to make the extra pass and have faith in them to make the shot."
The Crusaders lead extended as high as 26 and cruised to a conference win. Following Erves was Buchanan with 13 points, and Hobson added 12. Compton grabbed all nine points due to a trio of three-pointers. Tyjuan Battles added eight first half points and Javonte Valdez dished six assists.
Dallas Christian continues its busy stretch of games with Randall University in a road contest. The Crusaders will have played five games in seven days, with three of the four at the friendly confines.
"We all like getting in the gym and hooping, especially the stretch of games at home," Tucker said. "We like hooping at home."
DCC also had eight players chime in with one made trifecta and a lot seemed to fall once the defense had a big stop. Tucker seemed to know what the winning formula is for the Crusaders.
"Hit those three's, pressure defense, and get steals and keep running."
Sitivi Fehoko was the top scorer for Southwestern Adventist with 19 points. Joshua Miles had 12, while Ephraim Viadex came near a double-double with nine points and 10 boards.
Dallas Christian tips on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Randall University.
