Box Score McMurry University's War Hawks lost an 81-75 heartbreaker to crosstown rival Hardin-Simmons University Thursday, Feb. 8 in Kimbrell Arena.
Coach Zach Pickelman's team got a 5-2 lead early after both teams struggled to get out of the gates. But like prize fighters that both schools are in the longtime series, each started throwing punches and neither gave in to the other.
The visitors won the first half 44-30, but the home team roared back in the second to take it 45-37.
Freshman forward Tristan Holden (San Antonio, Texas) was top scorer with 20 points, followed by senior forward/center Elias Garcia (Houston, Texas) with 16, and senior guard CJ LeBlanc (Dallas, Texas) and sophomore guard Coco Rose (Odessa, Texas) with 14 each.
Holden and Garcia both had double doubles as Holden also finished with 12 rebounds, four on offense and eight on defense, and Garcia got 10 rebounds, two on offense and eight on defense. The War Hawks connected on six three-pointers. Holden was 3 of 4, Garcia was 1 of 2, LeBlanc was 1 of 3 and junior guard Matt Pena (El Paso, Texas) was 1 of 4. The Maroon and White nailed almost every free throw attempt, 13 of 15, as Garcia was 5 of 5, LeBlanc was 5 of 6, Pena was 2 of 2 and Holden was 1 of 2.
McMurry stole the ball nine times with Pena and Garcia having three thefts apiece, LeBlanc getting two and Rose adding one. Holden had three of the War Hawks' five blocked shots with junior center Andrew Stevenson (Killeen, Texas) and junior forward TJ Hilliard (New Orleans, Louisiana) contributing one each.
Prior to the game, Garcia, LeBlanc, Charles, and director of equipment management Chance Sims were honored during a senior ceremony.
McMurry gets another opportunity at 3 p.m. Saturday to try and take down HSU, but this contest will be at HSU. The Lady War Hawks and Cowgirls tip off at 1 p.m.
Saturday marks the last time both schools will go against each other in basketball as members of the same conference as McMurry departs for the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference this fall.
