BELTON — Behind a solid performance by Trey Nelson, the Sul Ross State men's basketball team shocked the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with an 83-80 victory on Thursday afternoon at the Mayborn Campus Center during a non-conference match.

The Lobos haven't defeated the Crusaders since Dec. 8, 2020. Sul Ross had dropped its five previous meetings against UMHB.

Sul Ross and UMHB met 12 days prior as the Crusaders won by 13 points in Belton.

Setting the tone early in the first half, the Lobos broke a 2-2 tie to take a six-point lead by using a 6-0 run.

Daveone Bass had four quick points during the surge.

The Crusaders cut the deficit to three by landing a shot from beyond the arc, but Sul Ross powered ahead after Nelson came in the clutch by knocking down two 3-pointers to give the Lobos a seven-point lead with 12:39 remaining.

UMHB landed another three-pointer before Sul Ross answered with one of its own by Luke Pluymen, which kept the lead at seven.

Slowly, the Crusaders began to creep back into the game to tie up the score at 20-all with 8:19 on the clock.

Larry Morrison gave Sul Ross a two-point lead with a jumper before UMHB tied up the game for the third time in the first half.

Deadlocked at 22-all, Bass made a jumper to put the Lobos ahead by two once again, this time with 6:35 to go.

UMHB answered back to tie the game at 24-all.

Morrison hit another jumper to put Sul Ross up, 26-24, with 5:43 on the clock.

Like two boxers exchanging blows, the Crusaders dealt another uppercut in the form of a three-pointer to take a one-point lead.

UMHB rallied to a 10-point lead, which was cut to seven right before the end of the first half when Nelson hit a three-pointer.

Sul Ross trailed by as much as 10 points with 12:49 to go in the second half before surmounting a comeback.

It all started when Nelson landed another clutch three and then Julian Paredes followed up with a jumper to cut the deficit in half.

Using his hot hand, Nelson made another three-pointer to put Sul Ross within four with 10:51 remaining.

Pluymen later landed a jumper to get the Lobos to within two.

UMHB revamped its lead to seven with 9:40 to go.

Nelson made four quick points to chisel the deficit to three with 9:15 on the clock. The Crusaders answered with a jumper and some key free throws to increase their lead to five.

To no surprise, Nelson hit another three-pointer as he was fouled for a four-point play that cut the deficit down to one point with 7:58 remaining.

Vince Peralez put Sul Ross up by one with a jumper, which made the score 64-63.

Pluymen increased the Lobos' lead to three with another jumper with 5:58 left in the contest. The Crusaders later tied up the game with a three-pointer.

A steal led to another shot landed from beyond the arc for the Crusaders as they gained a three-point lead at 69-66 with around five minutes to go.

Paredes tied up the game at 69-all with a clutch three-pointer.

The lead see-sawed back and forth as UMHB went up by one and then a jumper by Nelson put the Lobos ahead by one point.

A jumper in the paint later put the Crusaders back on top with a one-point lead with 3:52 to go.

The game was tied twice more down the final stretch before Pluymen landed the go-ahead three-pointer with 25 seconds on the clock.

UMHB cut the deficit down to one with a layup with just nine ticks on the clock.

Nelson was fouled and sent to the line where he made two free throws to seal the deal for the Lobos.

With 32 points, eight rebounds, one steal and four assists, Nelson had a solid afternoon on the court. He also landed seven 3-pointers while shooting 11 of 18 from the field.

Paredes and Pluymen added with 10 points each while Peralez chipped in with nine points.

Morrison and Hayden Peterson each tallied eight points.

Sul Ross grabbed 33 rebounds to UMHB's 35. The Lobos took advantage of 10 UMHB turnovers by creating 17 points off the miscues.

The Lobos had 19 points off the bench as the lead changed nine times. Sul Ross also had 13 three-pointers while it shot 6 of 7 from the free throw line.

Nine of the 13 three-pointers came in the second half.

Sul Ross snapped a four-game winning streak by the Crusaders. UMHB had defeated Division I Texas State during an exhibition game to make the streak five games, unofficially.

>> RECORDS: Sul Ross (4-8); UMHB (7-4)

>> UP NEXT: The Lobos take on Nebraska Wesleyan at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30 in Belton, Texas, to wrap up 2022.