Late Surge Pushes Mountaineers Past the Eagles

Kerrville, Texas – Schreiner University’s Mountaineers kept their momentum alive with an 81-68 win over the University of the Ozarks on Sunday—a victory that marks their third straight double-digit win and fourth win in their last five conference contests. In the inaugural SCAC showdown between the Mountaineers and the Ozarks Eagles, the Mountaineers improved to 14-5 overall and 7-3 in league play.

Freshman Dylan Snow set the tone for what would be a strong defensive effort, swiping the first of 10 Schreiner steals leading to a fastbreak layup by CJ Ward. Snow added seven consecutive points as the two teams battled to a tight 9-8 scoreline. Off the bench, Justin Gooden ignited a fast-break surge, knocking down three field goals in the first half. Junior Mario Johnson’s highlight two-handed jam  helped Schreiner establish a 24-15 lead with nine minutes remaining in the period. As the half wore on, Kamden Ross turned in a signature performance—grabbing rebounds, blocking shots, and swiping the ball to stretch the lead to 32-23. But the Mountaineers fell silent for a spell, and the Ozarks capitalized with an 11-0 run that pushed them to a 36-34 lead by the break. 

The start of the second half saw the two teams battle closely. A deep three from Beau Cervantes, followed by buckets from Snow and Dylan Mackey, gave the Mountaineers a slim 49-45 advantage. Yet Ozarks answered with a run of their own, briefly taking a 53-49 lead at mid-session. That narrow edge wouldn’t last. The Schreiner bench provided a timely spark as Johnson and freshman Camden Hyman knocked down a series of 3’s and 2’s to flip the lead to 63-60 with seven minutes remaining. From there, the seniors took charge. Kamden Ross dazzled with a string of high-flying layups and a pirouette dunk, while Cervantes drained two more deep threes. Their combined effort sparked a decisive 14-0 run, stretching the Mountaineers’ lead to 77-63 with just three minutes left on the clock.

Ozarks was led by Justice Marmara’s 26-point, 11-rebound effort and supported by playmakers James Mathews and Donovan Darthard, who each recorded four assists. Ultimately, though, the Eagles’ late-game rally couldn’t overcome Schreiner’s surge; the Mountaineers outscored the Eagles 22-11 in the final nine minutes to seal the win.