ABILENE, Texas – Freshman guard Cody LeBlanc converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 10 seconds remaining to give McMurry University Men's Basketball a one-point lead, but Texas Lutheran University hit the game-winning jumper with five seconds left, as McM fell 60-59 Saturday evening to the Bulldogs in Kimbrell Arena.
The War Hawks (0-2) and Bulldogs (1-1) traded baskets after forward Mike Williams Jr. broke a 52-52 tie with 1:46 remaining. Trailing 58-56 after a TLU missed free throw, LeBlanc drove down the left side of the lane and banked in the tying bucket, drawing the foul and knocking down the go-ahead free throw.
Sebastian Andrade of TLU raced down the court and hit a running jumper from the right wing over two defenders to break the hearts of the War Hawk faithful. McM had one final chance, but turned the ball over trying to push the ball up the court.
McM once again held a healthy first half advantage, leading 31-12 at intermission. The defense held the Bulldogs to just 19.2 percent shooting in the frame.
A defensive struggle for much of the opening half, McM finally broke the game open in the final four minutes of the half. Coming out of the under four media timeout, senior forward Krishawn Terry trailed coming down the court, before throwing down a highlight reel one-handed alley-oop from junior guard Colin Taylor for a 20-12 lead.
Terry stayed hot, burying a three on the next possession and adding a steal and layup for a 25-12 advantage. He added one more layup, before Williams capped the 15-0 run for McMurry to end the opening stanza with a pair of bunnies in the paint.
However, the second half looked similar to that of Friday's game, as TLU crept back in the game with a 10-0 run out of the locker room. McMurry held onto a slim lead for the majority of the half, with TLU not taking its first lead until 1:25 remaining on a three by Caleb Lister, who finished with a game-high 27 points.
Terry led McM in both scoring and rebounding, tallying 13 points and nine boards. Taylor matched Terry's 13 points while dishing out five assists. Senior guard Zacc Carter scored nine points, while LeBlanc and Williams each had eight, respectively. Williams and junior guard Khalil Butler each snagged eight boards, as well.
Neither team shot above 40 percent, with McM at 39 percent and TLU at 33.9. The War Hawks held a 45-37 advantage on the glass. McM dominated the points in the paint, 34-14.
McMurry will have a chance to add a big win to its resume November 16, as the War Hawks visit No. 8 Nebraska Wesleyan for a 5 p.m. tip. The Prairie Wolves are the 2018 NCAA III national champions.
