Box Score
ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University saw its four-game win streak come to a screeching halt on Saturday, dropping an American Southwest Conference game to Texas Lutheran University, 67-64, at Kimbrell Arena.
The setback leaves the War Hawks at 13-5 overall and 9-5 in the ASC. The Bulldogs improved to 9-10 overall and 8-7 in league.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game,” McM head coach J.D. Isler said. “We watched them enough and scouted them enough. We knew they had a quality team.
“I heard every coach in the league talk about how tough the (ASC) West is top to bottom. You just don't ever get a breather game. You've got to win your home games; we let one get away today.
“We talked (with the team) this week about how the team that makes the fewest mistakes the last five minutes usually wins. We just made more mistakes than (TLU) did.”
McMurry received a break-out performance from reserve guard
Takoby Jackson, who had a team-high 22 points. Jackson shot an efficient 6-of-7 from the field and was a perfect 5-for-5 from beyond the arc. Just for good measure, the junior was 5-of-6 from the free throw line, as well.
Senior point guard
Jaden Isler was the only other War Hawk to break into double figures with 11 points. Isler also had a game-leading six assists.
Senior forward
Steven Jones was held in check by the Bulldogs, registering just eight points and two rebounds. Coming in, Jones averaged better than 17 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game on the season, along with a string of three-straight double-double games.
Jones was also held to single digit scoring for the first time this season and snapped a string of 19-consecutive double-digit scoring efforts dating back to the tail end of 2010-11.
Connnor Robinson grabbed six rebounds, while
Brock Kimball and
Alfred Perez added five caroms apiece.
Both teams enjoyed their largest leads in the first half – TLU by four and McMurry by nine – and the War Hawks led the entire second half until the final 21 seconds. A three-pointer by Evan Reed gave the Bulldogs their first lead, 65-64, since the 15:36 mark of the opening period.
A steal and dunk by TLU's Isaac Williams (game-high 23 points) with four seconds left extended the Bulldog advantage to three, 67-64.
McMurry's last gasp attempt at a long pass to the front court was intercepted by TLU at midcourt to hand the War Hawks just their second home loss this season.
