ABILENE – McMurry avenged an earlier road loss with a 107-100 victory over Howard Payne in Kimbrell Arena on Tuesday.
 
After Howard Payne rallied from 14 points down to take the lead at halftime, the War Hawks stayed locked in but trailed by three with 7:34 to play.
 
Jalen Cherry, Gervai Maeweathers and D'Von Turner all scored in a 7-2 run to put McMurry ahead for good, 96-94, with 4:42 to go.
 
The Yellow Jackets threatened again, getting the lead down to a single point, but Kino Thompson and Cherry hit four clutch free throws to build a 103-98 cushion with 30 seconds left.
 
Cherry led the War Hawks with 23 points and TJ Hilliard posted 22 points. Thompson, who hit all eight of his free throws, had 17 points and Matt Pena used a four-of-seven night from three-point range to end up with 16 points.
 
Cherry had nine rebounds and Thompson added five assists.
 
The War Hawks return to action on Jan. 4 when UT-Dallas visits for the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference opener.