ABILENE, Texas – A defensive and team effort paved the way for a key nonconference victory for McMurry University Men's Basketball Tuesday night, as the War Hawks sank the Southwestern University Pirates, 80-59, inside Kimbrell Arena.
Four players scored in double figures, led by senior forward Mike Williams Jr.'s 14 points in just 14 minutes. No player played more than 26 minutes.
Defensively, the War Hawks (2-5) held the Pirates (3-3) to just 30.3 percent shooting, including an icy 21.9 percent in the first half. It was the second time this season the War Hawks have held a team to just 30 percent from the field.
Senior guard Zacc Carter added 13 points, with 10 coming in the first half. Carter had six of McM's first 10 points, and his jumper with 15:53 remaining in the first half helped spark a 16-3 run over the next six minutes as McMurry erased an early 8-4 deficit.
The War Hawks led by as many as 11 in the first half, and held a 30-22 advantage at the break.
Southwestern pulled within six in the opening minutes of the second half, but the War Hawks got the lead back to double digits on a free throw by Carter. McM would continue to build its lead, as a three pointer by sophomore guard Jordan Sherman just shy of the halfway mark gave McMurry a 52-34 lead.
Sherman scored a career-best 11 points on the evening, going 4-for-6 from the field, including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. He also added four rebounds and an assist.
The lead ballooned to over 20 points with just under seven minutes left, as McMurry would lead by as many as 24 at 77-53 after a three-point plasy by Williams with two minutes remaining.
Senior forward Krishawn Terry was the fourth War Hawk with double figures, scoring 13 points and grabbing a game-high nine rebounds in just 18 minutes of action before fouling out. Junior guard Khalil Butler added nine points.
Butler, Williams and Carter each recorded seven rebounds. Freshman guard Shaydon Campbell excelled in directing the offense, dishing out five assists. Junior guard Colin Taylor passed out four helpers and had three steals.
The strong free throw shooting continued for McMurry, as it shot 21-of-29 at the charity stripe. McMurry shot 41.3 percent from the field, including 48.9 percent in the second half.
McMurry outscored Southwestern 28-10 in fast break points after forcing 21 turnovers. The War Hawks also held 38-15 and 28-20 advantages in bench points and points in the paint, respectively.
The War Hawks will now turn their attention to their American Southwest Conference opener Saturday, as they will visit crosstown rival Hardin-Simmons University for a 3 p.m. tipoff at the Mabee Complex.
