Mountaineers Set New Record For Single Season Wins and Extend Win Streak to 5

After a back-and-forth start, Kamden Ross threw down a thunderous dunk to give Schreiner its first lead at 8–7. Ross dominated the paint all night, finishing with a monster double-double of 35 points (13–21 FG) and 10 rebounds, while also blocking two shots.  Ross’s strong start opened lanes for others. Mario Johnson scored 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting off the bench, Bradley Russell sank a three, and Carson Diamond contributed 4 points in just 5 minutes. That bench spark helped Schreiner extend its lead to as many as 12 points in the first half (37–25). TLU trimmed the margin to just 41–39 with under 10 seconds left in the half, but a flurry of plays from Dylan Mackey and a three-pointer by Beau Cervantes (14 points) in the closing seconds suddenly ballooned the lead back to 46–39 at the break.

Schreiner opened the second half with a burst, going up 51–41 behind a Dylan Snow three-pointer (he finished with 8 points on 2-of-2 from deep). Ross continued to dominate inside, while CJ Ward (6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists) and Cervantes combined to maintain pressure on TLU’s defense. TLU clawed back within six at 72–66 behind strong offensive rebounding (17 offensive boards total) and perimeter shooting from Xavier Phillips (14 points, 4 threes). Mason Wallace provided a spark off the bench with 14 points, and TLU as a whole outrebounded Schreiner 42–40. However, the Bulldogs’ shooting woes from downtown (8–34, 23.5%) ultimately kept them from seizing control.

After TLU had closed the gap, Dylan Snow delivered a crucial deep three that put the Mountaineers up 80–66 with under four minutes remaining. From there, Schreiner’s defense locked down, and the Bulldogs never seriously threatened again. With time winding down, Ross punctuated the game with a final dunk and a pair of free throws, finishing 9-of-12 at the line. 

Cervantes added 14 points and 5 assists, Mackey posted 7 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals, and CJ Ward chipped in 6 points with 4 rebounds. Alongside Tapken’s 27, the Bulldogs received 14 apiece from Phillips and Wallace, but their 8-of-34 (23.5 percent) effort from three-point range stalled the comeback. 

The Mountaineers will host these same Bulldogs, along with the Southwestern Pirates next weekend in a Kerrville.