ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University Men's Basketball will open 2020 by returning to American Southwest Conference play, hosting LeTourneau University January 2 and East Texas Baptist University January 4 inside Kimbrell Arena.
Tipoff for Thursday's contest against the YellowJackets is set for 7:30 p.m., with Saturday's matchup versus the Tigers is slated to tip at 3:30 p.m. Live stats and video links will be available at mcmurrysports.com.
NOTES:
LAST TIME OUT: The War Hawks last played December 14-15 in Memphis, Tennessee, in the Rhodes Christmas Classic. McMurry defeated Rhodes 74-64 before falling to Berry College, 83-76.
HOME SWEET HOME: McMurry resumes conference play with four consecutive games at home to start 2020. The War Hawks play nine of their next 11 games at home.
STATISTICAL LEADERS: Four players average more than 10 points per game for the War Hawks, led by senior forward Mike Williams Jr. at 11.9. The others are senior guard Zacc Carter (11.1); senior forward Krishawn Terry (10.3); and junior guard Khalil Butler (10.3). Butler leads McM with 8.6 rebounds per game.
CONTROLLING THE PAINT: Williams is third in the ASC with 8.1 rebounds per game and is third in blocks at 1.8 per contest.
SCOUTING LETU: LeTourneau enters ASC play at 7-2 overall, led by senior guard Nate West, who leads the ASC with 22.1 points per game and 7.8 assists per contest. West also tops the conference in free throw percentage. Justin Moore scores 15.0 points per game off the bench, as the YellowJackets boast the second highest scoring offense in the league at 84.9 points per game. LETU leads the ASC with 46.2 boards per game, as well.
SCOUTING ETBU: The Tigers also enter the weekend 7-2 after splitting the weekend at the UTD Classic. ETBU has the highest scoring margin in the ASC at 11.0 points per game and is also tops in free throw and three-point percentage. Robby Dooley paces the Tigers with 16.8 points per game while Chris Haynes leads the ASC with a .672 field goal percentage.
THE SERIES: McMurry leads the all-time series with LeTourneau, 17-7, but has lost the last four meetings with the YellowJackets. The War Hawks also lead the Tigers, 15-12, with ETBU winning the previous two contests.
