Box Score ABILENE, Texas – The McMurry University men's basketball team found itself on the wrong side of a game for the first time at home, as they fell 68-62 to St. Mary's University on Saturday.
 
The first half was controlled by the War Hawks, as they shot a blistering 77 percent from the field (14-of-18) and eight-for-eight from the line. St. Mary's ran out to a six- point lead over the first ten minutes of the game as a Mark Simmons layup at the 10:55 mark gave the Rattlers a 16-10 lead.
 
Over the next four minutes, the War Hawks fought back, going on a 13-0 run capped by two Chris Campbell free-throws to take a 23-16 advantage with 6:25 to go.
 
With McM up 29-22, five-straight points by Takoby Jackson pushed the War Hawks lead to the largest of the game at 12 points, 34-22. McMurry would go into the half up 11, 36-25.
 
In the first half, Jackson led the way, scoring 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting. McM dominated the first half, outscoring St. Mary's 22-6 in the paint and holding the Rattlers to just 32 percent shooting in the half.
 
In the second half, however, the game swung in the complete opposite direction, as St. Mary's was able to outscore McM 19-8 over the first eight minutes of the second half to tie the contest at 44-44. McMurry would then hold the lead just one more time at the 5:52 mark when it took a one-point lead on a jumper by Alfred Perez, 56-55. The Rattlers would outscore the War Hawks 11-6 over the final five minutes, and the War Hawks fell at home for the first time this season, 66-62.
 
The second half was dominated by Kevin Kotzur of St. Mary's, who scored 20 of the team's 43 second-half points. The Rattlers also held McM to just 10 made field goals in the second frame.
 
Offensively, Jackson finished the game with 19 points while DJ Stennis joined him in double figures, scoring 16 on the night.
 
McM will be back in action on Thursday, February 21 when they travel to Goodwell, Oklahoma to take on the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies. The contest is scheduled to follow the women's contest which is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.