ABILENE, Texas – It has gotten down to the most basic of mathematical equations for the McMurry University men's basketball teams to secure a spot in the American Southwest Conference post-season: win and you're in.

The War Hawks (15-8, 11-8 ASC) currently sit in a tie for third place in the ASC West, along with Concordia-Texas. On Thursday evening, McM plays Howard Payne University in the first of its final two games of the regular season at Kimbrell Arena.

Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.

While there is a good chance McMurry could still get in without winning a game, the sure bet is to take care of its own business by winning one – or both – games versus the teams at the bottom of the ASC West standings this weekend. The War Hawks could still claim either the number three or four slot outright.

The task may sound easy, but that's certainly not the case in a well-balanced ASC. Howard Payne has the advantage on McMurry, having already defeated the War Hawks, 94-90, earlier this season. In that game, Bryce Hill had a team-leading 22 points and freshman Conner Robinson had a double-double of 15 rebounds and 17 points.

The loss was a mini wake-up call for McM, which went on to win its next four games in a row.

McMurry is still leading the nation in rebound margin, grabbing an average of 14.1 more boards than its opponents through the first 23 games of the year. That, and some high-octane offense (the War Hawks average 86.8 p.p.g.) has put the team in a pretty good position. The team is also bolstered by then fact that it is coming off of a three-point loss at No. 8 ranked University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (and that it has given the Crusaders their only setback of the 2011-12 season, previously).

Steven Jones heads the scoring at 16.1 points per game and has his rebound average at 8.6 caroms per contest. Jones has tallied in double figures in 20 of 23 games this season.

Hill, who has been McM head coach J.D. Isler's first man in off the bench, is second in scoring at 14.5 p.p.g. and converts an average of 3.2 baskets from beyond the arc each game to rank among the nation's three-point leaders. His 41.4 percent three-point shooting is also among the best in NCAA III.

Jaden Isler is the War Hawks' third player averaging in double digit scoring at 12.9 p.p.g. His 5.6 assists per game also puts him among the nation's best.

Dominick Walker has been McMurry's beast on the boards, averaging 9.6 rebounds per game. He also scores 7.4 p.p.g. on offense and hits nearly 50 percent from the field.