Box Score

ABILENE, Texas – McMurry's first-half effort propelled the team to its ninth American Southwest Conference victory Thursday at Kimbrell Arena when the team took down Schreiner Uniersity 85-62. McMurry led the Mountaineers at half 45-22 before the teams played even in the second half, however, Schreiner couldn't overcome its 23-point first-half hole.

McMurry's Steven Jones scored 17 points and Bryant Taylor added a season-high 14 points off the bench for McMurry. Steven Johunkin and Jaden Isler each had 11 points and Derick Sumpter added nine.

McMurry shot 48 percent from the floor and were allotted 25 more free-throw attempts than the visitors. The Mountaineers didn't take their first free throw until 8:01 in the second half and finished the game at 3 of 7 while McMurry hit 20 of 32 foul shots.

Neither team took care of the ball with McMurry turning the ball over 24 times and Schreiner had 23. The difference in the game for McMurry, however, was its play in the paint; McMurry scored 48 points in the painted area while Schreiner managed only a dozen.

In the losing effort, Schreiner shot 35 percent from the floor and Alex Hammond scored 12 points off the bench on four 3-point field goals. McMurry won the battle on the glass as well tallying 52 boards compared to the Mountaineers' 36. In addition, McMurry had 20 second-chance points while Schreiner had seven.

Schreiner's last lead in the game came at 14-12 on a jumper from Mike Huddleston with 15:14 left in the first half. McMurry countered with five-straight points and never trailed again.

McMurry improved to 11-6 overall and 9-4 in league play while Schreiner fell to 8-10 overall and 6-8 in league play. McMurry plays host to Texas Lutheran Saturday at 3 p.m.