ABILENE, Texas – A late rally by the McMurry University men's basketball team fell short in an 80-72 non-conference loss to Texas Lutheran University at Kimbrell Arena.  The War Hawks (0-1) trailed the Bulldogs (2-0) by as much as 22 points early in the second half, before clawing back.
 
TLU led for nearly 38 of the game's 40 minutes. Both teams shot well.  McM hit 42 percent from the field (26-62), only to be out-done by the Bulldogs' 47 percent night (30-63).  Neither team was show about launching three-point shots, combining for 48 attempts (25 by McM), with TLU draining nine and the War Hawks seven from long range.
 
Senior Nate Estrada led McMurry's efforts with 21 points on a 7-for-16 night from the floor. Among Estrada's points were 4-of-10 treys and 3-of-4 free throws.  He also had seven rebound and a game-high five steals.
 
Junior forward LaRandall Scroggins added 13 points and was his team's only other double-figure scorer. Scroggins was 5-of-12 from the floor and had a team-best nine rebounds, to go along with three assists and two steals.
 
Sophomore point guard Calvin McGee booked nine points. A trio of teammates – Aaron Gettys, Kaan Yilmaz and Darius Watts - scored seven points each.  Yilmaz had six boards and three steals in his McM debut.
 
Luke Stephenson had a pair of blocked shots of McM head coach Zach Pickelman's bench. Zacc Carter also had one block.
 
TLU's Sterling Holmes had a monster game of 25 points and11 rebounds.
 
The War Hawks resume action on Saturday at home. McM welcomes Schreiner University for another non-conference bout.