ABILENE, Texas – After a month of practices, McMurry University Men's Basketball heads north to break the ice off the 2018-19 season. The War Hawks will be flying to Menomonie, Wisconsin, for matchups against Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams University of Wisconsin-Stout and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
McMurry will face the host Blue Devils at 7 p.m. Friday before facing the Blugolds at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Live stat and video links can be found at mcmurrysports.com.
NOTES:
Last Season: The War Hawks went 9-16, 6-11 American Southwest Conference in 2017-18. The team graduated its leading scorer, LaRandall Scroggins, who averaged 13.4 points per game.
ASC Poll: McMurry was predicted to finish sixth in the ASC West Division in the conference preseason poll. Sul Ross State was picked to win the West while LeTourneau was tabbed to win the East Division.
Watch List: Junior guard Zacc Carter was named to the ASC Preseason Watch List. He earned ASC West Division honorable mention honors last year after averaging 10.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
Top Returners: Carter is the top returning scorer for the War Hawks at 10.4 points per game last season. Junior forward Mike Williams Jr. also returns after grabbing a team-high 6.6 rebounds per contest a year ago. Guards Dedrick Berry Jr., Shakur Smith, Elijah Johnson and Colin Taylor also return to the War Hawks' backcourt.
Newcomers: McMurry added two new faces to the squad for 2018-19. Senior forward Jordan Jackson transferred to the War Hawks after a year at NCAA II Glenville State and freshman guard Jordan Sherman comes to the War Hawks from Estacado High School in Lubbock, Texas. Jackson also played two years for Division I school Florida A&M University.
ASC Tournament: The War Hawks will be looking to return to the ASC Tournament for the first time since 2012 this season, when they were back-to-back champions in 2011 and 2012.
Blog: Sophomore guard Elijah Johnson will be providing a daily journal/photo blog of the team's trip. Make sure to follow along for updates throughout the weekend.
About UW-Stout: The Blue Devils finished last season 8-17 overall and are off to a 2-0 start in 2018, defeating Lawrence University and Finlandia University. Sophomore forward Jon Ciriacks is averaging a double-double of 13.5 points and 10.0 rebounds to pace the Blue Devils, with sophomore guard Luke Geiger also chipping in 13.0 points per game.
About UWEC: The Blugolds finished 2017-18 with a 12-13 overall record. They opened this season with an 80-75 win over 23rd-ranked St. Olaf. Junior guard Cole Rabedeaux led the Blugolds with 21 points in the win.
Coach Zach Pickelman: Pickelman enters his fourth season at the helm of the War Hawks, coming of back-to-back 9-16 seasons. He has a career record of 21-54.
