Abilene, Texas – Some teams just now know how to win, and the University of St. Thomas men's basketball team is one of those teams. After a high-scoring win at Howard Payne on Thursday night, the Celts returned on the bus and traveled to Abilene, Texas, to play a tough Hardin-Simmons team. The Celts could not find the basket most of the night, but their defense carried them through for a thrilling 62-55 win to improve their season record to 3-0. St. Thomas shot 35% on the night and went 5-25 from three but still earned a road win.

The first half was a gritty and hard-fought contest. The Celts trailed early but kept pace with the Cowboys, tying the game at 17-17 midway through the period. A clutch three-pointer by Omar Gayle, assisted by Ricky Altamirano, sparked momentum for the Celts. Hardin Simmons refused to back down despite taking a narrow lead, keeping the score close. The Celts entered halftime with a slim 29-25 lead.

In the second half, the back-and-forth intensity continued. Hardin Simmons battled to take the lead with 13 minutes remaining, setting up a dramatic exchange of scores that saw the lead change hands 12 times. The Celts found their rhythm with the game tied at 50-50. Andrew Adebo's critical free throws gave UST a one-point edge, and Nathan Kongolo followed with a timely three-pointer, assisted by Adebo. Angel Johnson then sealed the win with a combination of free throws and a mid-range jumper, helping the Celts secure the victory.

Key contributors for the Celts included Nicholas Buffalo, who controlled the boards with 9 rebounds while adding 7 points. Angel Johnson was instrumental with 12 points, shooting a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. Marion Williams added 10 points, and Nathan Kongolo chipped in 8 points alongside 3 steals. The Celts collectively dominated the glass, grabbing 35 rebounds and converting 93.8% of their free throws to close out the game. Up Next

Up Next
The Celts return to Houston to face Howard Payne on November 23 at 2 p.m. For more updates, follow the team on Instagram (@ustmbasketball) or visit ustcelts.com.