Box Score
ABILENE, Texas - McMurry University jumped out to a 10-point halftime cushion versus Mary Hardin-Baylor and handed the No. 6 ranked Crusaders their first loss of the season, 75-71, at the Kimbrell Arena.

The War Hawks (12-4, 8-4 ASC) led wire-to-wire versus UMHB (16-1, 12-1 ASC). Although McM led by as much as 17 points midaway through the opening period, the host had to withstand a furious comeback bid by the American Southwest Conference West Division leading Crusaders late. McM took a 43-33 cushion into the halftime locker room.

Early in the second period, the ebb-and-flow of the game saw the host War Hawks hold a double-figure lead most of the period and build that back up to as much as 17 points again with 9:36 left in the game, thanks to an Anthony Johnson (8 points) jumper to make it 64-47.

However, a 10-point War Hawk advantage with 1:15 left to play was whittled down to three points, 73-70, with 19 tics left on the game clock after a layup by UMHB's Brian Todd (nine points). A pair of free throws by Bryant Taylor (his only points of the night) gave McMurry some insurance down the stretch.

The War Hawks were held without a field goal the final 3:21 of the game.

An overall strong team effort by the War Hawks was puctuated by the tandem of reserve guard Bryce Hill and post man Steven Jones.  Hill came off of head coach J.D. Isler's bench and poured in a game-high 20 points on a 7-for-15 night shooting. Hill was 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. He also led either team with five steals.

Jones had his second-consecutive double-double game - and his seventh of the season - by booking 17 points and 10 rebounds.

McM's Dominick Walker led all rebounders with 15 boards. The War Hawks had a huge 55-32 advantage on the glass for the game.

The Crusaders offense was paced by 19 points from Marlon Miller and 15 from Thomas Orr.

"We knew (UMHB) were going to make runs and they did," said Isler. "But to our guys' credit, we withstood every one of them.

"We felt like other than the nine free throws they made the first half, that they were having trouble scoring. They are a big, physical team. But I thought we not only defended them really well, we defended them really smart.

"What a great win for our kids."