Box Score ESPANOLA, N.M. – McMurry University's men's basketball team could not overcome a balanced attack at Northern New Mexico University, falling by a score of 90-68 in its opening game of the NNMU February Classic. The loss dropped the War Hawks to 5-14 on the year.
Senior
Connor Robinson continued to shine for McM, as he has done all of 2014-15, leading his team in scoring for the 13th time in 19 games. Robinson finished with 27 points and eight rebounds. He made good on 11-of-19 from the floor and converted 5-of-7 free throws.
The game was Robinson's 13th-straight in double-digit scoring and 12th, overall, with 20 or more points scored.
McMurry was tied with the Eagles – 9-9 – at the first media break five minutes into the game. However, the host NNMU squad slowly began to widen the gap and led by 20 points at the halftime break, 51-31.
The Eagles maintained a 20-point cushion for most of the second half. A Robinson bucket with 2:30 left to play got McM to within 18 points, 82-64.
Sophomore
Thierry Tchenko gave McM head coach
Clif Carroll a career-high 16 point effort. Tchenko hit 6-of-11 from the field and also snagged three rebounds. He was 1-for-1 from beyond the arc, as he tallied 14 of his points in the second half.
LaRandall Scroggins chipped in six points and
Hondo Webb five.
Trumaine Elmore booked four points, while
Alex Lewis and
Gabriel Chacon had three each.
Cutter Smith and
Blake Cochran had two, apiece, to round out the War Hawks' scoring.
McMurry's team shot a creditable 45 percent (27-60) from the field as a team, but was overshadowed by the Eagles' 52 percent (33-64). NNMU buried a total of 15 three-balls, while the War Hawks managed just three baskets from long range.
The War Hawks will get another stern test on Thursday evening in Espanola, taking on Cal State San Marcos, the No. 1-ranked team in the NAIA Division I poll.
