ABILENE, Texas – The McMurry University men's basketball team kept its perch atop the American Southwest Conference West Division standings by dispatching of the University of Texas-Tyler, 91-87, at Kimbrell Arena.  The teams provided a real crowd-pleasing effort, as the War Hawks (3-3, 3-1 ASC) and Patriots (6-2, 1-2 ASC) combined for 11 ties and 12 lead changes in the game, with the largest lead by either team being seven points.
 
McM out-rebounded UTT by a 36-28 margin, with not many caroms to be found.  But that was a by-product of sizzling shooting by both teams. The Patriots shot 54.5 percent (30-55) from the field and the War Hawks were close to the same at 53 percent (35-66).
 
McMurry used some deft ball handling to amass 16 assists (compared to 10 for UTT) in the game.  Sophomore transfer Dedrick Berry Jr. had a season-high seven assists. Colin Taylor added four "helps."
 
The top benefactor of those passes was senior forward LaRandall Scroggins, who booked a team-leading 21 points.  Scroggins hit 10-of-14 from the floor, also passing off for three assists and making two steals.
 
Sophomore guard Zacc Carter and Berry joined Scroggins as the other starters to score in double figures. Carter logged 13 points, buoyed by a 7-for-7 night from the free throw line.  Berry had 10 points.
 
Shakur Smith had nine points and Aaron Gettys six to round out the starting five for the War Hawks.
 
The real difference proved to be the bench scoring, where McM held a 30-10 advantage for the game.  The trio of Luke Stephenson, Taylor and Mike Williams Jr. accounted for 26 of those points.  Stephenson went 4-for-8 from the field, finishing the night with 12 points. Taylor added eight and Williams six points.
 
Taylor and Williams had six and five rebounds, respectively.
 
McMurry will next face Texas Lutheran University on Friday (Dec. 15/7:30 p.m.) at Kimbrell Arena, in a non-league contest.