CLARKSVILLE, Ark. – McMurry University men's basketball survived a wild shootout on the road, earning a 109-104 victory at the University of the Ozarks in an American Southwest Conference cross-divisional contest.  The War Hawks' (7-7, 3-3 ASC) "century" total versus the Eagles (5-7, 1-6 ASC) was the first triple-digit game for McM since the season opener of the 2014-15 campaign.
 
It was the most points scored by a McM team since it won a 109-99 decision at Concordia University-Texas on February 16, 2012.  It was also marked the first time that both McMurry and its opponent both reached the 100-point plateau since a 115-111 donnybrook win in overtime versus Schreiner, also in the 2011-12 season (Jan. 26).
 
But more important in the War Hawks' immediate season, the win helped McM reach the .500 level for the year. It was the team's second win in its last three games, as well.
 
Both the War Hawks and Ozarks battled strongly from the outset in a game which featured 12 ties and 14 lead changes, most of which occurred in the first half.  UO had its largest lead of the game, 26-17, with 8:30 to play in the opening segment, before a McMurry rally gave the guests a 48-46 halftime cushion after a pair of Nate Estrada free throws in the waning seconds of the segment.
 
With 14:09 remaining in the second half, a layup and made free throw by freshman Kaan Yilmaz put McM ahead for good.  Yilmaz's three-point play also ignited an 11-2 run by the War Hawks over the next two minutes to give the team a seven-point lead, 73-66.
 
McM held a double-digit advantage for much of the balance of the half. That is, until the Eagles swooped in for a final rally of their own.  
 
After McM led by as much as 14 points following a pair of Luke Stephenson free throws with 4:46 to play, Ozarks whittled away the deficit and got to within an uncomfortable four points, 102-98, with just 42 seconds left in the game. But the War Hawks converted seven of their eight free throws down the stretch to ice the victory.
 
For the second time this season, McM had five players finish a game in double-digit scoring, led by Estrada's 23.  Estrada was 5-of-19 from the field – including 4-of-13 from beyond the arc – and converted 9-of-10 free throw attempts.  He also shared high-rebound honors for the game with nine boards.
 
LaRandall Scroggins and Darius Watts each tallied 20 points.  Scroggins was an efficient 9-of-12 from the floor and also pulled down nine rebounds.  Watts snared eight caroms and also passed off for four assists.
 
Stephenson came off of the McM bench to contribute 17 points, also going 9-of-10 from the charity stripe.  Yilmaz had 15 points and eight boards, while dishing off four assists, as well.
 
Sophomore point guard Calvin McGee had five assists to lead McM. Zacc Carter was credited with two of the War Hawks' four blocked shots as a team.