ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Men's Basketball used a strong second half to pull away from Howard Payne University Saturday at Kimbrell Arena in a 77-58 American Southwest Conference West Division victory. The win extends the winning streak to three games.

Trailing 26-25 at the half, the War Hawks (7-12, 4-6 ASC) turned up the heat in the second half, outscoring the Yellow Jackets (3-15, 1-8 ASC), 52-32. Quickly taking a 36-30 lead out of the break, McMurry extended the lead to 21 with a 17-2 run over a four-minute stretch.

Sophomore guard Colin Taylor continued his stretch of hot shooting, scoring 11 points in the second half shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor and 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Taylor led the War Hawks with 14 points, and has now made seven of his last eight threes dating back to Thursday's game versus Sul Ross State.

After Howard Payne cut the lead back down to 16, the War Hawks went on a 10-0 run to get their largest lead of the game of 26 points at 63-37, with the run capped by a Taylor three. HPU would make a final push to get back within 16 with just minutes left, but sophomore forward Brandon Bullock put the exclamation point on the game with a dunk with 30 seconds left.

McMurry shot 53.8 percent in the second half, including 46.2 percent from three. They also held a 15-point advantage at the charity stripe and 25-17 edge on the glass. The War Hawks forced 11 of 18 turnovers in the second half, which the War Hawks converted into 20 fastbreak points for the game.

Junior guard Dedrick Berry Jr. led three other War Hawks in double figures with 12 points, while senior forward Jordan Jackson and junior forward Mike Williams Jr. each chipped in 11 points, respectively. It was a team effort in the scoring column, as the War Hawks had 39 bench points.

Berry had a game-high eight rebounds, as well. Williams grabbed seven boards, while junior guard Zacc Carter contributed nine points, four boards and four assists. Jackson filled out the stat sheet again, collecting four boards, two blocks and two steals.

It looked as if McMurry would pull away in the first half, as they built up a 10-point lead. But Howard Payne closed the half on a 15-4 run before the War Hawks took over in the second half.

For the game, the War Hawks shot 42.6 percent from the field while holding the Yellow Jackets to just 33.9 percent. McMurry held a 47-37 rebound margin, as well.

McMurry will have just one game next week, when they visit cross town rival Hardin-Simmons University January 26 at 3 p.m.