Box Score
ABILENE, Texas – In a game with 11 lead changes, McMurry made the final stand and squeaked out a 66-64 American Southwest Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Kimbrell Arena.
Teddy Chambers' two free throws with 5:11 to go gave McMurry the final lead change of the game at 58-57, which sparked a 10-2 run.
However, Texas Lutheran, like it did all game would not go away.
Steven Jones hit a bucket, stole a pass on the ensuing possession and drained two free throws with 1:28 remaining to give McMurry its largest lead at 66-59. However, Michael Flores countered with a 3-pointer for the Bulldogs, McMurry's
Cameron Quinton was called for an illegal screen on the following possession, and Isaac Williams converted two free throws to cut the lead to two points with 48 seconds left for TLU.
On McMurry's offensive set in the closing seconds,
Teddy Chambers' shot fell short and Williams grabbed a rebound and TLU called a timeout with six seconds left. However, the Bulldogs couldn't get Flores the ball for a last-shot effort thanks to a deflection by
Derick Sumpter and the buzzer sounded without a shot attempt from TLU.
Texas Lutheran shot 50 percent in each half and finished 27 of 54 from the floor while holding McMurry to a 45-percent effort. However, McMurry's advantage came on second-chance points with the team's eight offensive rebounds leading to 12 points.
The Bulldogs' Williams scored 15 points in the losing effort with Brandon Potts adding a dozen on a 6 of 6 shooting effort. Jones and Sumpter each had 19 points while Jones had a double-double with 10 boards while adding four assists and three steals. Chambers had six points and 10 boards for McMurry. Other than Jones and Sumpter, McMurry shot a combined 6 for 18 and scored 28 points.
McMurry won its fifth out of six ASC contest with the win over TLU and moved to 12-6 overall and 10-4 in league play. The Bulldogs fell to 8-10 overall and 7-8 in league play.
Hardin-Simmons comes to McMurry's Kimbrell Arena Monday night for the cross-town rivalry game looking to even the series after McMurry won the first matchup 69-62 Dec. 14. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
