ABILENE, Texas -- Texas Lutheran men's basketball (0-1) fell to 20th-ranked Hardin-Simmons, 86-83, in the season-opener as the Cowboys sank the buzzer-beating three-pointer as time expired to avoid the upset Friday night in Abilene.

The Cowboys came out guns blazing in their first action of 2025, shooting nearly 60 percent in the first half to carry a 14-point, 49-35, lead into halftime.

In the second half, the Bulldogs were able to rally as the Cowboys struggled from the field. Texas Lutheran was able to erase their double-digit deficit behind 61.5 percent shooting. After trailing by as many as 21 points, TLU chipped away at the Hardin-Simmons lead before finally tying the game 83-all with 15 seconds left following a contested three-pointer from Mason Wallace (San Antonio/Judson).

Following a timeout, Hardin-Simmons kicked it out for the dagger to avoid overtime and escape the potential season-opening upset from the Bulldogs.

Wallace led the Bulldogs with a career-high 29 points and eight rebounds while Teddy Tapken (Austin/Lake Travis) added 20 points and eight rebounds of his own. Semaj Edwards (Lanham, MD/Oak Hill) had 15 points and five rebounds for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs finished the game shooting 47.4% (27-of-57) but made just 5-of-17 three-pointers (29.4%). TLU was 19-of-26 from the free throw line (70.6%).

Texas Lutheran wraps its Abilene doubleheader tomorrow night, Nov. 8, as they face the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets at 5 PM. All streaming and live stats links will be available on tlubulldogs.com.

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