SEGUIN, Texas – McMurry University men's basketball dropped its third-consecutive contest – after starting the season 2-0 – with an 80-66 road loss at Texas Lutheran University.
 
While head coach Clif Carroll got back leading scorer and rebounder Connor Robinson – who missed virtually all of the previous two road games last week after taking a blow to the head – but did not have the services of two other starters (Jordan Holmes and Alex Lewis) at TLU. Just eight War Hawks (2-3) played against the Bulldogs (2-4).
 
That fact was most noticeable in the bench scoring, where TLU held a substantial 41-27 advantage.
 
"Texas Lutheran played a very physical style of basketball and our young players did not respond well," Carroll said.  "I give a lot of credit to Coach Smith at TLU. His team made a lot of shots and played very physical on defense. We were inept at the free throw line and had a hard time ending possessions with a rebound. Connor (Robinson) was a force again. We need to get more consistent play out of our young players in order to become a better team.
 
"Blake Cochran finally had a break out game after missing the first month of practice. I hope that he can be a spark for us.
 
The Bulldogs were in control for most of the game, holding the lead for 30 minutes, compared to McMurry's 4:11 minutes on top on the scoreboard. The contest was tied for 5:49 minutes.
 
McM trailed by 13 points – 62-49 - with 7:50 left to play, until the War Hawks made a run at the Bulldogs.  Over the next three minutes, McM went on a 12-4 tear and climbed to within five, 66-61, on a pair of Robinson free throws.
 
Robinson would tally eight of his game-high 19 points during the run, but McM would get no closer. Robinson also had a game-leading 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the year. He hit 6-of-13 shots from the field and was 7-for-10 from the free throw stripe.
 
Cochran amassed 18 points (12 in the first half) on a 6-for-10 night shooting, which included 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
 
LaRandall Scroggins posted a team-leading four assists for McM, to go along with his eight points and seven rebounds.  Webb also contributed eight points, four rebounds and three assists, while Aaron Gettys chipped in six points and five caroms.
 
"Bottom line, we need our young kids to grow up and join the play of Hondo (Webb) and Connor (Robinson)," Carroll surmised. "When we get that we will be a better ball team."