Sandlin Header 2022
Hess Gravely Sales Event Header
Cypress Basin Hospice 2023 Header
Better View Tree Trimming Header Ad
ETB Advertising Banner Header Terrie 1
ETB Advertising Banner Header Terrie 2
Hess Lawn Mower Header

ASC – Sports

Comets, Cru Picked to Win ASC Men’s Hoops Divisions

RICHARDSON, Texas – The league’s head coaches and directors of sports information picked UT Dallas and Mary Hardin-Baylor to win the 2020-21 American Southwest Conference East and West Division champions in men’s basketball, the ASC office announced Wednesday. 

UT Dallas (22-7, 14-2 ASC) received 139 points and 20 of a possible 24 first-place votes to lead the East Division. The Comets, under seven-time East Division Coach of the Year Terry Butterfield, won the division last season and advanced to the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship. 

Mary Hardin-Baylor (15-11, 7-9 ASC) they picked to win the West Division with 111 points and seven of 24 first-place votes. The Cru welcomes four-time ASC West Division Coach of the Year Clif Carroll, who led Sul Ross State to the division title last season. 

In the East, the LeTourneau (23-6, 13-3 ASC) was picked second with 110 points and two first-place votes after winning the ASC Championship in 2020. The YellowJackets were followed by East Texas Baptist (21-7, 12-4 ASC) with 102 points and two first-place votes after advancing to the ASC Finals a year ago. They followed by Louisiana College (13-13, 7-9 ASC), Belhaven (10-15, 7-9 ASC), and Ozarks (8-17, 4-12 ASC). 

Hardin-Simmons (11-15, 7-9 ASC) was selected as the runner-up in the West with 104 points and six first-place votes, followed by Concordia Texas (12-14, 7-9 ASC) with 101 points and two first places and defending divisional champion Sul Ross State (17-10, 13-3 ASC)  with 99 points and nine first-place votes. McMurry (7-18, 4-12 ASC) and Howard Payne (2-23, 1-15 ASC) rounded out the voting. 

The 2020-21 ASC Men’s Basketball Watch List comprises 34 players nominated by the head coaches and includes one all-conference selection, 16 all-division recipients, and five individual award winners. 

The 2020-21 season marks the 25th in league history. Regular season play begins Saturday, November 7. 

The three-day, eight-team, single-elimination conference tournament is March 4-6 at the site of the East Division No. 1 seed. The ASC Championship Tournament features the top four seeds from both divisions, which is an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship will be on the line.

ASC Men’s Basketball Preseason Polls
East Division

No. Team (First-place votes) Pts. 2019-20 Record (ASC)
1. UT Dallas (20) 130 22-7 (14-2)
2. LeTourneau (2) 110 23-6 (13-3)
3. East Texas Baptist (2) 102 21-7 (12-4)
4. Louisiana College 60 13-13 (7-9)
5. Belhaven 54 10-15 (7-9)
6. Ozarks 39 8-17 (4-12)

West Division

No. Team (First-place votes) Pts. 2019-20 Record (ASC)
1. Mary Hardin-Baylor (7) 111 15-11 (7-9)
2. Hardin-Simmons (6) 104 11-15 (7-9)
3. Concordia Texas (2) 101 12-14 (7-9)
4. Sul Ross State (9) 99 17-10 (13-3)
5. McMurry 53 7-18 (4-12)
6. Howard Payne 34 2-23 (1-15)

ASC Men’s Basketball Preseason Watch List
East Division

Name Pos. Class School Hometown
Kelvin Pruitt G Sr. Belhaven Memphis, Tenn.
Luke Couch 2 RF G So. Belhaven Vestavia Hills, Ala.
Matthew McMillan G So. Belhaven Martin, Tenn.
Christopher Haynes 2 F Sr. East Texas Baptist Houston, Texas
Charlie Cochran F Jr. East Texas Baptist Louisville, Ky.
Aaron Gregg G Jr. East Texas Baptist Austin, Texas
John Argue F H F So. LeTourneau Houston, Texas
Justin Moore 2 G Sr. LeTourneau Houston, Texas
Andrew Eberhardt H G Jr. LeTourneau Pearland, Texas
Kae’ron Baker 1 G Sr. Louisiana College Navasota, Texas
Trey Ames C Sr. Louisiana College Lafayette, La.
KJ Bilbo N F Sr. Louisiana College Bossier City, La.
Bryson Johnson G Sr. Ozarks Katy, Texas
Zach Bobo G Sr. Ozarks Jacksonville, Ark.
Tim Turpin F Sr. Ozarks Cypress, Texas
Dimitrius Underwood G Sr. UT Dallas Mesquite, Texas
Michael Forster D F Sr. UT Dallas Austin, Texas
Kelden Pruitt 2 F Sr. UT Dallas Heath, Texas

A 2019-20 All-American Southwest Conference
R 2019-20 East Division Freshman of the Year
N 2019-20 East Division Newcomer of the Year
1 2019-20 East Division First Team Selection
2 2019-20 East Division First Team Selection
F 2019-20 East Division All-Freshman Team
D 2019-20 East Division All-Defensive Team
H 2019-20 East Division Honorable Mention

West Division

Name Pos. Class School Hometown
Luis Gonzalez RF G So. Concordia Texas Carolina, P.R.
Trevon Hester F G So. Concordia Texas North Richland Hills, Texas
Alexander Estrada G Jr. Concordia Texas San Antonio, Texas
Steven Quinn 1 F Jr. Hardin-Simmons Dallas, Texas
Trey Woolridge C Jr. Hardin-Simmons Porter, Texas
Kyle Brennon G Jr. Hardin-Simmons Houston, Texas
Tyrell Thompson F Sr. Howard Payne Houston, Texas
Jacob Smith F G So. Howard Payne Katy, Texas
Luke Cox G Jr. Howard Payne Rockwall, Texas
Aedan Welch F Sr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Georgetown, Texas
Darius Musa G Sr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Houston, Texas
Sam Reaves F Fr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Thorndale, Texas
Khalil Butler G/F Sr. McMurry Baltimore, Md.
Tristen Licon A P 1 G Sr. Sul Ross State El Paso, Texas
Logan Dixon N H F Sr. Sul Ross State Burleson, Texas
Jake Lopez D G Sr. Sul Ross State El Paso, Texas

A 2019-20 All-American Southwest Conference
P 2019-20 West Division Player of the Year
R 2019-20 West Division Co-Freshman of the Year
N 2019-20 West Division Co-Newcomer of the Year
1 2019-20 West Division First Team Selection
F 2019-20 West Division All-Freshman Team
D 2019-20 West Division All-Defensive Team
H 2019-20 West Division Honorable Mention