ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University's men's basketball team gave the No.16-ranked team in the NAIA – Wayland Baptist University – all it could handle for the vast majority of Saturday's match-up, before eventually succumbing, 92-79, at Kimbrell Arena.
 
The War Hawks (3-7) either lead, were tied or stayed within single digits of the Pioneers (12-1) until the final seven minutes of the contest. It was a stark reversal of the last meeting between the teams in Plainview back on November 24, which was a 30-point blowout in favor of WBU.
 
One of the key reasons might well have been the fact that senior Connor Robinson was able to play in this meeting. In the previous bout between the Pioneers and War Hawks, Robinson took a blow to the head in the first minute of the game and could not continue.
 
But this time, Robinson took on the much taller WBU inside players, tallying 21 points. Robinson hit 8-of-15 from the floor and was 5-for-7 from the free throw line. WBU was able to curtail Robinson's rebound totals, limiting him to four caroms (he averaged better than 10 per game coming in). Robinson found another way to help his team's cause, passing off for a game-high five assists.
 
Robinson led a quartet of double-digit scorers for McM versus the nationally-ranked Pioneers. Logan LeDane came off of the War hawks' bench to pour in 15 points. LeDane was 4-for-8 from the floor – all from beyond the three-point line – and was 3-of-4 from the free throw line.
 
Alex Lewis and Hondo Webb chipped in 14 1nd 11 points, respectively. Lewis also pulled down seven rebounds, while Webb netted four assists and four steals on his ledger.
 
Both teams shot well from the field as a unit. McM hit nearly 47 percent of its attempts (28-60), while the Pioneers hit 51 percent (27-53).  WBU also nearly double up on McMurry from the free throw line, making good on 31-of-36 tries (McM was 16-for-23).
 
The War Hawks were out-rebounded, 39-27. However, McM did force 19 WBU turnovers, which it converted into 23 points.