Kyle Poynter scored in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime, and the Houston Tigers pulled away for a 73-66 victory Saturday evening against Dixon.
The game was played at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla.
The victory snapped the Tigers’ two game losing skid. It was their first victory since a Dec. 28 win against Lutie at the Cabool Holiday Tournament.
“It seemed like forever since we got our last win,” Houston coach Brent Hall said. “It was the first game I felt like we executed for four quarters.”
Poynter led Houston (4-7) with a game-high 34 points. The Tigers got a huge lift from sophomore Curry Van Horn, who hit four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished with 16 points.
“Usually if he’s not shooting well in the game, he quits shooting,” Hall said. “We’ve told him to have a shooter’s mentality. When he’s open and it’s a good shot, he needs to pull the trigger on it.”
Houston forced overtime by outscoring Dixon 24-17 in the fourth quarter.
Hall said it was a neat experience playing on a college court. The team watched the Missouri S&T men’s game beforehand.
“We got to see that level of play and how hard they’re playing. Some of the things we’ve been preaching to the kids — at the college game, they do that every play,” he said.
BOX SCORE
Saturday’s game
Houston 11 12 14 24 13 — 73
Dixon 12 18 19 17 6 — 66
HOUSTON (4-7) — Van Horn 6 1-3 18. KyPoynter 9 15-22 34. Setters 3 1-2 4. KaPoynter 2 0-0 4. CScheets 2 3-4 7. JScheets 1 1-2 3. Jones 2 0-0 4. Totals 23 24-34 74.
3-pointers: Houston 7 (Van Horn 5, KyPoynter, Setters).
