Box Score

ABILENE, Texas – McMurry avoided a repeat of Monday night by holding on for a tight 83-79 victory over the University of the Ozarks Thursday night at Kimbrell Arena. For the second-straight game McMurry had a double-digit lead in the second half, but the Ozarks cut the lead to one point with 32 seconds left before holding on for a four-point victory.

Monday against UT-Tyler, McMurry blew a 20-point second-half lead against UTT in an 18-point overtime loss. Thursday, the team led by 12, but the Eagles created a scare when Jeremy Victor's 3-pointer with 32 seconds left cut the lead to 80-79. However, Steven Jones hit three free throws in the final 21 seconds and Teddy Chambers and Anthony Johnson each blocked shots on the defensive end on the Ozarks' final two possessions to seal the victory.

McMurry's balanced scoring attack with five players in double figures was led by Jaden Isler's 14. Johnson and Chambers added 13 apiece while Chris Hergenreter and Jones had 11 each. McMurry shot 47 percent from the field including a 57-percent effort in the second half.

The Eagles forced McMurry into 22 turnovers and turned those miscues into 15 points. However, the visitors couldn't overcome a 37-percent shooting effort for the game after a hot start to begin the game.

After a 20-7 lead to open the first half, the Eagles hot start cooled and McMurry rallied to take a 36-35 lead into the locker room at half. The Ozarks hit four of its first five 3-point attempts and had a double digit lead just 3:38 into the contest when Jerard McGinty hit one of his three first-half 3-pointers.

In the losing effort, Adnrew Williams had 23 points and Victor finished with 22. The Ozarks hit 10 of 21 from long range and made 25 of 35 free-throw attempts.

The Eagles fell to 3-4 overall, and 1-2 in American Southwest Conference play while McMurry improve to 4-2 and 2-1 respectively. McMurry returns to action against nationally-ranked UT-Dallas Saturday at 3 p.m.