North Las Vegas, Nev. – Josh Hawley registered a career-high 24 points to lead Tarleton State University to a 59-50 victory over the Le Moyne College men's basketball team in non-conference action at the Holiday Hoops Classic on Tuesday afternoon at the Doolittle Community Center.

Junior forward Tom Brown (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) was the only Dolphin in double-figures scoring with 15 points, including eight in the first half, while adding five rebounds and five assists.
 
Hawley, who scored 14 of his points in the first half, was 11-of-15 from the field and added a game-high nine rebounds. Jesse Hill recorded a career-best 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting, including 12 points after halftime.

The Texans opened the game with 12 of the first 16 points over the initial 7:57. Hill had the first two points, Hawley followed with eight straight and then Sam Marshall made a lay-up.

Le Moyne answered with eight of the next 12 points to get within 16-12 with 8:23 to go in the first half. Brown and junior guard Zay Jennings (Allentown, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic/Caldwell) made three-pointers around a Hill lay-up and then senior swingman C.J. Asuncion-Byrd (Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich/St. Thomas More/Gannon) knocked down a jump shot.

Hill (2) and Hawley (4) combined for the game's next six points to give Tarleton State its largest lead of the game, 22-12, with 5:26 remaining in the half.

The Dolphins countered with a 10-2 run to get back within two. Junior forward Kobi Nwandu (York, Pa./Northeastern York/East Stroudsburg) and Brown buried three-pointers, with Brown's beating the shot clock, redshirt junior guard Oshea Gairey (Toronto, Ontario/St. John's Catholic Prep (Md.)/Simon Fraser) converted two foul shots and then sophomore guard Tim Leavell (Marion, Ind./Marion/State Fair C.C) made a jumper.

Marshall made at three-pointer with 36 seconds left in the half to give Tarleton State a 27-22 lead at halftime.

Le Moyne opened the second half with nine of the first 11 points to take its first lead of the game. Gairey and junior guard Ryan Roland (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill/Mercyhurst) nailed three-pointers and then Brown made a lay-up for a 30-29 edge.

The Texans answered with six straight points to take the lead back. Hill made a lay-up and then Hawley had a dunk and a jumper for a five-point advantage.

The Dolphins countered with three straight three-pointers to take the lead back. Roland hit the first, Brown put the Dolphins up 36-35 and then Nwandu made the score 39-37 with 12:18 to play.

After Brown gave the Dolphins their last lead of the game, 44-42, with a lay-up with 7:11 remaining, the Texans scored six straight points to take the lead for good. Corinthian Ramsey nailed a go-ahead three-pointer, Richie Mitchell made a free throw and then Hill converted a lay-up.

Nwandu snapped the run with a jumper, but Hill (4) and Hawley (2) scored six consecutive points to extend their team's run to 12-2.

Following a Jennings three-pointer to trim the deficit to five, Ramsey connected on another three-pointer and Hill made a lay-up for a 59-49 lead with 1:02 to play.

Le Moyne (6-4) wraps up play at the Holiday Hoops Classic on Wednesday against Angelo State University at 5:15 p.m. EST/2:15 p.m. PST.