Box Score

ALPINE, Texas – McMurry University collected its eighth American Southwest Conference West Division title since the conference split up into to divisions in 1999 with a 79-70 victory over Sul Ross State Saturday at the Gallego Center. In addition, McMurry is the No. 1 seed in the ASC Postseason Tournament hosted by UT-Dallas in Richardson Friday through Sunday.

McMurry won the first four ASC West Division championships from 1999-2002, shared the title in 2005 with Hardin-Simmons and Sul Ross State, shared it with Mary Hardin-Baylor in 2007, and have now won it outright in both 2009 and 2011.

Derick Sumpter's 22 points and perfect 5 for 5 performance from 3-point range helped key a balanced scoring effort that propelled McMurry to an 18-7 overall record and a division-clinching 16-5 league record.

As a team, McMurry shot 46 percent from the floor and used a 14-0 run midway through the first half to aide in the win. McMurry led by four points at 16-12 when Bryant Taylor's 3-pointer sparked the run with 9:58 to play capped by a Teddy Chambers jumper with 6:24 remaining to put McMurry up 33-12.

The Lobos cut the lead to 17 points at half trailing 41-24 and came out swinging in the second half. Sul Ross State cut the lead to three points opening the second period on a 22-8 scoring run in the first 5:06 of the second half.

McMurry countered to build the lead back to 11 points before the Lobos cut the lead to five points on six different occasions in the final 9:39 of the contest. However, time ran out and McMurry held off the fierce comeback attempt by hitting three field goals and 5 of 6 free throws in the final 3:48.

As the No. 1 seed from the west, McMurry will take on the No. 4 seed from the east division, Louisiana College Friday in Richardson at a time to be determined.