ABILENE, Texas - McMurry University's men's basketball team could not maintain its first-half pace versus East Texas Baptist University, dropping a 95-85 decision at Kimbrell Arena. The War Hawks (4-9, 3-4 ASC) opened the American Southwest Conference cross-divisional contest with a 16-0 run against the Tigers (10-2, 4-1 ASC).
The War Hawks did not permit the visiting ETBU squad a point until the 15:49 mark of the first half. McM still held an 11-point advantage, 20-9, with 11:41 left in the period. Over the next seven minutes, the Tigers turned the tables, out-scoring the War Hawks, 24-3, to lead by double figures, 33-23.
McMurry had a run of its own to close the half. A late jumper by
Isaac Moreno and a free throw by
Khalil Butler in the waning seconds gave the War Hawks a 40-39 lead at the break.
While the teams remained close early in the second, ETBU began to extend and built a 17-point cushion with 4:58 to play. Undaunted, the War Hawks clawed back to within four points, 85-81, on a
Mike Williams Jr. jumper with 1:18 remaining. But that would be as close as McMurry would get down the stretch, as the Tigers closed out with a 10-4 run against McM.
Four War Hawks finished the game in double-figure scoring, including two with double-double games. Williams had 19 points and 14 rebounds – both game-leading totals – as he made good on 8-of-14 from the field in reaching his second double-double of the season. He also had three of his team's four blocked shots.
Senior
LaRandall Scroggins had had his fourth double-double game of 2017-18 by amassing 16 points and 11 boards. Scroggins was 6-of-12 from the floor.
Luke Stephenson had a season-best total of 18 points, thanks to a 7-of-12 shooting effort. Fellow sophomore
Zacc Carter chipped in 15 points, connecting on 7-of-8 free throws.
Shakur Smith had eight points and
Colin Taylor five. Taylor had a game-leading eight assists, the most "helps" in a game since Alex Smith had nine assists Feb 12, 2015 versus Southwestern Adventist.
McM will try to snap its six-game skid next Thursday (Jan. 11) when it plays host to Concordia University-Texas. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Kimbrell Arena.
