ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Men's Basketball will conclude the first half of its season with a pair of games in Abilene, wrapping up 2018 with a home game on New Year's Eve. The War Hawks will finish the nonconference portion of their schedule with a visit to NCAA I Abilene Christian University Saturday before hosting UT Dallas next Monday.
Tipoff at ACU is slated for 1 p.m. while the New Year's Eve matchup against UT Dallas is scheduled for 2 p.m. Admission will be free for the game against UT Dallas. Live stat and video links are available at mcmurrysports.com.
NOTES:
LAST TIME OUT: In rematches at a pair of nonconference foes in Texas Lutheran University and Schreiner University, the War Hawks were swept, falling to TLU, 72-59, and at Schreiner, 84-73.
BUTLER BREAKS OUT: Sophomore guard Khalil Butler had two breakout games against TLU and Schreiner. Against TLU, he set a career high with 12 rebounds while netting 18 points. He bettered that versus Schreiner, scoring a career-high 25 points and matching the 12 rebounds.
FROM DISTANCE: McMurry hit a season high 14 three pointers in the loss at Schreiner. Butler leads the ASC from beyond the arc at 52.1 percent.
ASC STANDINGS: Monday's game against UT Dallas resumes conference play for the War Hawks, with all remaining games after Saturday American Southwest Conference action. McMurry was picked to finish sixth in the ASC West Division, and currently sit fourth with a 1-2 ASC record.
LONG TIME NO SEE: Saturday's meeting with ACU marks the first time the two schools have played since 1974-75. McMurry won the final three meetings, but the Wildcats lead the all-time series 60-25.
STATISTICAL LEADERS: Junior forward Mike Williams Jr. leads four players averaging in double-figures at 16.4 points per game while junior guard Zacc Carter averaging 16.0 points per game. Sophomore guard Khalil Butler and senior forward Jordan Jackson average 12.6 and 10.4 points per contest, respectively. Williams Jr. also leads the team in rebounding at 7.5 per game while Butler tallies 6.8 boards per game.
SCOUTING ACU: The Wildcats are 10-2 to start the season, including wins over Schreiner and Howard Payne. Senior forward Jaren Lewis leads three players averaging double figures in scoring at 15.0 points per game and leads the team with 5.3 rebounds per game, as well.
SCOUTING UTD: The Comets are 8-3, 3-2 ASC, which puts them in fourth place in the East Division. Junior guard Dimitrius Underwood paces the Comets with 19.0 points per game and 8.9 rebounds per game. Junior forward Hans Burwitz is second to Underwood in both points and rebounds with 13.9 and 7.6, respectively. They will visit Southwest Assemblies of God University Saturday before making the trip to Abilene.
