ABILENE, Texas – In a battle which featured 12 ties and nine lead changes, the McMurry University men's basketball team was unable to hang on to its late lead, as Howard Payne University took a 75-69 win at Kimbrell Arena.
 
The War Hawks (3-18) led by a point, 69-68 with 1:13 left to play after a LaRandall Scroggins free throw.  But the Yellow Jackets would score the final six points of the game to secure the victory.
 
McM looked to be in control coming down the stretch. The War Hawks held an eight-point lead with 7:09 left to play, 64-56, on a Zachary Campbell free throw. HPU out-scored McM the rest of the way, 19-5.
 
McMurry led at the half, as well, 38-36.
 
Both teams had four players in double figures. For the War Hawks, Nate Estrada and Scroggins each booked 14 points. Estrada hit 5-of-7 free throws. He also hauled in six rebounds and made three steals, as well. Scroggins also grabbed six boards. Scroggins was 5-of-14 from the field and 4-of-7 from the charity line.
 
Aaron Gettys was his team's most efficient shooter with a 6-for-7 night on his way to 12 points. Senior Blake Cochran was the fourth member of the double-digit quartet for McM with 11 points. Cochran passed for four assists and Gettys had three rebounds on their ledgers.
 
Freshman Romelo Robinson tallied eight points off the bench.
 
Freshman point guard Calvin McGee had game-leading totals for both assists (7) and steals (4). McGee added five points to his team's totals.
 
The Jackets controlled the rebounding statistics, out-boarding the War Hawks by a 51-31 margin.
 
McM will play its final home contest on Saturday (3 p.m.), welcoming ASC West leader Sul Ross State University to Kimbrell Arena.