KERRVILLE, Texas – McMurry Men's Basketball opened the 2021-22 season with a high-scoring affair on the road, holding off the Schreiner Mountaineers for a 99-96 win on Friday in Kerrville, Texas.
The War Hawks (1-0) had five double-digit scorers in the win, led by returning sophomore CJ LeBlanc with 28 points in his first game since Feb. 22, 2020. LeBlanc also led the team with 37 minutes, adding three assists and four steals.
Sophomore Michael Imariagbe added 22 points and a team-high 11 rebounds in 20 minutes of action.
McMurry also produced its highest scoring game since 2016 with 99 points – shooting 44.9 percent from the field (35-78) and 40.9 percent from behind the arc (9-22).
In the first half, McMurry jumped out to a 17-point lead, breaking away with a 12-1 run after the first media timeout. With a 23-13 lead at that point, McMurry remained ahead by double-digits through most of the half.
Schreiner (0-1) chipped away early in the second half, pulling within five at 63-58 with 15:16 remaining. McMurry held on to its lead until the clock read 5:29, as a successful and-one for the Mountaineers tied things up at 83-83.
LeBlanc would come up clutch in the late stretch, scoring McMurry's next five points on a jumper and a triple to make it 88-85. Schreiner then gained its first lead since early the first half with 4:00 to go, but then Imariagbe had a personal 5-0 run to flip the lead back to the War Hawks.
The LeBlanc/Imariagbe scoring tandem continued late into the game, with a LeBlanc lay-up and a Imariagbe dunk kept the team ahead in a high-scoring crescendo. After his dunk made it 97-94 with 44 seconds to go, Imariagbe fouled out and Schreiner made both its free throws to make it a one-point game.
McMurry had what would've been the possession ahead 97-96, forcing Schreiner to foul the sure-handed senior Remy Minor. Minor – who finished with 13 points and four assists – sank both free throws to make it a three-point lead. Schreiner tried a three at the buzzer, but missed it.
Senior forward Craig Jordan matched Minor with 13 points, while sophomore TJ Hilliard added 12 points in his first career start. Minor and LeBlanc combined for seven triples, including a 3-4 night by Minor.
The War Hawks will have less than 24 hours to rest as they head to Texas Lutheran on Saturday for a 3 p.m. tip.
