ABILENE, Texas – Senior Nate Estrada had a game-high 24 points to lead a quintet of McMurry University players in double figures in his team's 99-92 win over Belhaven University. The win upped the War Hawks' record to 5-4 on the season, while the Blazers fell to 2-4.
 
Former Abilene High School product Estrada hit 9-of-16 from the field, including 3-for-9 from three-point range, and was 3-of-3 from the free throw line. He also dished off three assists.
 
LaRandall Scroggins and Luke Stephenson each managed 18 points.  Both players were 6-of-10 shooting from the field, with each pulling down five rebounds, as well. Stephenson had a team-leading six assists.
 
Freshman Kaan Yilmaz had a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Yilmaz also passed off for five assists and registered four blocked shots in his 31 minutes of work.
 
Darius Watts' 10 points rounded out McM's double figure scorers. Watts was 3-for-5 overall shooting, but was a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in just 11 minutes of playing time.
 
Calvin McGee added seven points, four assists and two steals. Aaron Gettys booked three points, while Zacc Carter and Mike Williams Jr. had two each.
 
The game was tight in the first half of play, with neither team leading by more than five points. The initial 20-minute segment produced five ties and nine lead changes. The Blazers led at the break, 47-46.
 
With 13:07 left to play in the game, McM still trailed by a single point, 58-57.  But Yilmaz sank a pair of free throws to put the War Hawks ahead for good. An 11-0 run by McMurry over the next two minutes saw the hosts' lead balloon to 69-58. The Blazers could get no closer than five points down the stretch, as the War Hawks snapped their two-game skid.
 
McMurry will next play at Schreiner University next Monday (Dec. 19) to begin a string of five-straight road contests. The War Hawks will not return to Kimbrell Arena until January 12.