Box Score ABILENE, Texas – The McMurry men's basketball team locked down a berth in the American Southwest Conference post-season tournament by its resounding 101-89 victory over Howard Payne University at Kimbrell Arena. The War Hawks improved to 16-8 overall and 12-8 in the ASC.

The win guarantees McMurry of a chance to defend its 2011 ASC tournament championship next weekend. It was also the team's fourth game with 100-plus points this season.

McM led wire-to-wire over the Yellow Jackets, putting a 10-0 cushion on the scoreboard before HPU finally put up any points. The War Hawks led by as much as 20 points in the first half before settling on a 53-36 lead at the intermission.

In the second half, McMurry's lead eventually reached 22 points on an Alfred Perez (6 points) basket with 5:09 left to play. From there, the War Hawks cruised home with the win on one of its best shooting efforts of the season.

As a team, McM shot 56.3 percent from the field (40-71), was 7 of 18 from beyond the arc (39 percent) and hit 14-of-16 free throws (88 percent). McMurry's team assisted on nearly 75 percent of the field goals in the fast-paced game, registering 29 “helps” on the night.

Jaden Isler had 11 of those assist, notching the point guard double-double by also scoring 14 points.

Steven Jones, coming off the bench versus HPU, had a season-high 28 points to lead all scorers. Jones  was 13-of-17 from the floor, also grabbing five rebounds.

Dominick Walker had a traditional double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Bryce Hill's 13 points, along with 10 from Bryant Taylor, rounded out the quintet of McM players in double figures.

Taylor passed off for nine assists and pulled down five rebounds.