ALEXANDRIA, La. - McMurry University's men's basketball team spoiled the debut of Louisiana College on its new home floor – the Rapides Parish Coliseum – by rolling to a 95-73 American Southwest Conference road victory.  The win was the first of the young season for the War Hawks (1-2, 1-0 ASC).
 
McMurry took control of matters early on.  With the score knotted at 19-19 with 7:25 left in the first half, the War Hawks closed the half on a 29-13 run and a 16-point bulge at the break (48-32). McM led by as much as 24 points -56-32 – early in the second stanza.
 
However, the host Wildcats would not go easily. Louisiana College whittled away at the deficit and, with 6:51 remaining, LC was within five points, 74-69. But just like that, the War Hawks' defense clamped down once again and the offense came alive, finishing the game on a 21-4 run on the way to the team's inaugural win of 2017-18.
 
Senior LaRandall Scroggins notched the seventh double-double of his McMurry career. Scroggins topped all players with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Scroggins hit 8-of-9 from the field in his 37 minutes on the court.
 
Sophomore Luke Stephenson narrowly missed a double-double, as well, booking 17 points and hauling in nine rebounds. Stephenson went 6-for-9 from the field – including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc – and hit 3-of-4 free throws. He also had four assists and a steal.
 
Darius Watts (15 points) and Dedrick Berry Jr. (12 points) rounded out the quartet of double-figure scorers for McM. Berry had a game-best five assists.
 
Guards Zacc Carter and Colin Taylor each chipped in eight points. Jayson Stepter had six points, Aaron Gettys four, and Krishawn Terry and Shakur Smith with three each, to round out McM's scoring.
 
The War Hawks won the battle of the boards in a big way, out-rebounding the Wildcats by a 46-21 margin. McMurry's bench out-dueled LC's reserve to the tune of 32-to-18 points.