ABILENE, Texas – Junior guard Trevin Ramirez knocked down a free throw with 2.5 seconds remaining to give the McMurry University men's basketball team an 80-79 American Southwest Conference West Division victory Thursday night over Sul Ross State University at Kimbrell Arena.
Both teams had chances in the final minute, but the War Hawks (6-12, 3-6 ASC) forced turnovers on the final three Lobo possessions. After Sul Ross lost the ball out of bounds with seven seconds left, Ramirez was fouled driving to the basket with two seconds remaining. After making the first free throw, he missed the second and Sul Ross called timeout on the rebound. On the ensuing inbounds pass, senior forward Jordan Jackson deflected the pass for his second steal in the final minute to seal the victory.
Neither team was able to pull away, with the lead changing 17 times including eight ties. The Lobos (8-9, 3-5 ASC) built the largest lead of the game at 57-48 with 15:35 remaining, but the War Hawks used an 18-3 run over the next five minutes to regain the lead at 66-60. Jackson scored 12 of his team-high 18 points in the run, with half of the points from beyond the arc and the other half in the paint.
The lead never grew beyond three points in the final eight minutes as the teams traded three pointers down the stretch before the Ramirez free throw.
McMurry connected on 12-of-27 three pointers on the evening, none bigger than the one at the end of the first half. With 0.7 seconds on the clock, sophomore guard Khalil Butler hit a fadeaway 35-foot jumper on the inbounds pass to cut the Lobos' lead at the break to 42-41.
The War Hawks shot a blistering 53.6 percent from the field, with an even 50.0 percent in the first half and 58.3 percent in the second. Seven of the 12 made threes came in the second half.
In addition to Jackson's 18 points, junior forward Mike Williams Jr. and sophomore guard Colin Taylor added 15 and 14 points, respectively. Williams ignited the crowd in the first half with a thunderous one-handed slam. Taylor was a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the arc and 5-of-6 from the field overall.
Jackson was a factor everywhere on the court, collecting four rebounds, four blocks and four steals. Williams and junior guard Zacc Carter tied for the team-high with six rebounds.
With the win, McMurry snapped a three-game losing streak versus Sul Ross.
McMurry concludes the weekend by hosting ASC West opponent Howard Payne University Saturday at 3 p.m.
