Box Score ABILENE, Texas – The McMurry University men's basketball team used a total team effort on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball as it routed Texas A&M – International University, 70-49, on Thursday evening in Kimbrell Arena.
 
The Dustdevils took the early, 2-0, lead on a jumper by Johnel Grey at the 19:18 mark, but that would prove to be the only deficit the War Hawks would face all night. McM quickly tied the game and took the lead on back-to-back buckets by Alfred Perez and Chris Campbell, and never again trailed in the contest.
 
The two teams kept the game close over the first ten minutes and had the game tied at 17-17 with 9:05 remaining in the half. With the game tied, McMurry then opened a 12-0 run. After two free-throws by Takoby Jackson, and back-to-back buckets by AJ Peralta, Jackson and Brock Kimball nailed back-to-back three-point shots just 35 seconds apart to take the 29-17 lead with 6:07 to go.
 
The lead would expand to as many as 16-points in the first half on another three by Kimball which made the score 38-22 with 3:32 remaining. TAMIU then scored the last two buckets of the half to cut the lead to 11, 38-27, heading into the break.
 
In the second half, the War Hawks stepped on the gas, outscoring the Dustdevils, 16-7 over the first eight minutes of the half to blow open a 20-point lead, 54-34, with 12 minutes remaining. With McM up 59-39, TAMIU responded with a quick seven-point run that cut the lead to 13, 59-46, with 6:08 to play.
 
Over the last 5:45, McMurry pulled away once again, outscoring TAMIU 11-3 over that span to take the 21-point victory, 70-49.
 
Offensively, six different War Hawks scored at least seven points, led by Alfred Perez's 16. Connor Robinson scored 15 points, while Brock Kimball added a season-high, 13, in the game. AJ Peralta finished the night with eight points while Takoby Jackson and DJ Stennis scored seven each.
 
The combination of the War Hawk forwards (Perez, Robinson, Kimball and Peralta) combined to shoot 20-of-27 from the field, which led to a huge, 44-20, advantage on points in the paint for McM.
 
Jackson and Stennis had great, all-around nights on the floor as well. Besides the seven points each, Jackson added five rebounds, five assists and four steals to his totals, while committing zero turnovers. Stennis finished the day with six boards, three assists, two blocks and two steals.
 
As a team, the War Hawks dominated every facet of the game, including points in the paint and bench points (32-22). The team also forced 16 TAMIU turnovers, which led to 30 McMurry points.
 
Holding the Dustdevils to just 34 percent shooting for the game and seven free-throw attempts, the McMurry defense marked the sixth time that it has held an opponent under fifty points this season.
 
With the win, McM moves to a perfect, 9-0 at Kimbrell Arena this season, while clinching the program's 18^th winning season in the last 19 years (team was one game under .500 in 2007-08).
 
The War Hawks will be back at home on Saturday, February 16, when they host the Rattlers of St. Mary's University. The contest is scheduled to follow the women's game, which is slated for a 2 p.m. tip.