Box Score
Hardin-Simmons shot 61.3 percent in the second half and overcame a eight-point halftime deficit to snap McMurry's three-game home win streak against the Cowboys with a 76-71 win at Kimbrell Arena Saturday night. Steven Luckey scored five points in the final 1:17 including a 3-pointer that put HSU up 74-40 that helped seal the game.
The Cowboys used a balanced scoring attack as four of their five starters were in double figures. Charlie Pannell led all scorers with 17, Marcus Smith added 16, Mardochee Jean had 15 points and 15 rebounds and Luckey had 13.
Every HSU player besides Rob Yeatts shot at least 50 percent on the night. Smith was the hottest, however, with a 6 of 7 shooting effort from the floor and he was 2 of 2 from behind the 3-point arc.
McMurry led 37-29 at the half and had control of the game to begin the second half. The hosts built a 13-point lead with a pair of free throws from Terrance Willis to put the team up 48-35. From there, HSU trimmed the lead, tied the game at 61 with 8:04 remaining and took its first lead with 7:17 remaining when Smith hit one of his treys to put the Cowboys up 64-62.
McMurry re-gained the lead and later went up three points when Alex Robles hit a shot with 4:03 remaining to put McMurry up 70-67. However, the Cowboys rolled with a 9-1 run to close out the contest.
Robles led McMurry with 15 points, however, he shot just 1 of 5 in the second half. Emile Brown scored 14 points off the bench for McMurry and was 5 of 7 from the field. Chris Gammage had 13 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. Willis had 12 points, seven rebounds and a game-high three steals.
McMurry hit its first 13 free throws and finished 19 of 25 from the line. However, the team shot just 37.1 percent from the field and was 6 of 19 from beyond the arc.
HSU improved to 3-3 overall and 2-1 in the ASC. McMurry had never lost three-straight home games to conference opponents until Saturday. The team fell to 3-3 overall and 0-3 in ASC play.
McMurry will face Louisiana College and Mississippi College on the road Dec. 17 and 19 respectively.
