ABILENE, Texas – The youthful McMurry University men's basketball team could not hold a 21-point lead midway through the second half, losing to the University of the Southwest, 89-86, at Kimbrell Arena. The loss dropped the War Hawks to 1-2 on the year, while the Mustangs improved to 4-2.
 
With 13:52 left to play, McM matched its largest lead when Mike Williams Jr. grabbed a defensive rebound and quickly brought the ball up-court and buried a short jumper to put his team up 66-45. However, over the next 10 minutes, USW would go on a 33-12 run to take its first lead since the 17:26 mark of the opening half.  A three-pointer by Leroy Cox (a game-high 33 points) put the Mustangs on top, 79-78.
 
The teams battled down the stretch, with six ties and lead changes in the final two minutes.  With 1:22 left in the game, LaRandall Scroggins' made a driving layup to give McMurry an 85-84 lead. It would be the War Hawks last lead of the night.
 
The Mustangs led 86-85 after a pair of free throws with 1:08 left. Just a few seconds later, McM's Nate Estrada was fouled in the act of shooting.  Estrada converted one of the two free throws to knot matters at 86-86.  With 37 seconds left to play, a trey by USW's Jim Coleman provided the margin of victory for the visitors, 89-86, as the War Hawks were unable to answer.
 
Scroggins and Luke Stephenson shared high point honors for McM with 18 apiece. Scroggins was an efficient 8-of-10 from the floor and – with a game-leading 10 rebounds – finished the night with a double-double. He also had two assists, two blocks and a steal.
 
Stephenson came off of the McM bench to hit 6-of-14 from the floor, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc and was 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Stephenson also pulled down six rebounds in 30 minutes of floor time.
 
Kaan Ylimaz added 13 points and seven rebounds, going 6-of-11 from the field. The War Hawks' fourth double figure scorer was Darius Watts with 12 points in just 14 minutes of playing time.
 
Estrada finished with eight points and four rebounds. Estrada also had three assists and a pair of blocks.
 
The War Hawks tallied 19 points off of USW turnovers and dominated in bench scoring, 40-24.
 
McMurry's women and men will travel to Centenary College on Sunday for a non-conference doubleheader. The women tip off at 2 p.m., followed by the men at 4 p.m.