ABILENE, TX – The McMurry War Hawks men's basketball team traveled to Mabee Complex on Tuesday night for a non-conference road tilt against rival Hardin-Simmons and fell 70-79. Despite a strong push in the second half and exceptional play from the bench, the War Hawks were unable to overcome an early deficit built by the Cowboys. McMurry now stands at 1-2 early in the season.
The first half started with a back-and-forth defensive struggle, but Hardin-Simmons soon found its rhythm. After McMurry briefly took a 7-6 lead on a shot from Jalen Cherry, the Cowboys responded quickly and efficiently, building a steady lead. Hardin-Simmons established control primarily through free throws, converting 15-of-17 attempts in the half, and capitalizing on second-chance points.
McMurry struggled to find consistent offense, shooting 37.5% from the field and only 3-of-9 from the free-throw line. Hardin-Simmons extended its lead to as much as 12 points late in the half. The War Hawks received a late burst of energy with a score from Cedrick Dodd, cutting the deficit to nine points, 39-30, heading into the break.
The War Hawks came out of the locker room with a renewed offensive focus, matching Hardin-Simmons point-for-point. However, the Cowboys pulled away and extended their lead to a game-high 20 points early in the second half, with no intention of letting up.
Despite the margin, the McMurry bench was explosive, fueling the remainder of the contest. Zack Rygg led the charge, scoring seven consecutive points during a run that cut the deficit, and the team went on a 9-0 run in the final minutes, including a three-pointer from Jeremiah Smith and a fast break layup from Aden Mendez. The team dramatically improved its free-throw shooting, converting 10 of 12 attempts (83.3%) in the second half. While the comeback effort was valiant, the lead proved too large to overcome before the final buzzer sounded.
Top War Hawk Performers
- Zack Rygg: Provided a major offensive spark off the bench with a team-high 15 points, hitting 2-of-5 three-pointers, and pulling down four rebounds.
- Jalen Cherry: Contributed eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds, leading the team's effort on the glass.
- Cedrick Dodd: Played a team-high 33 minutes and finished with 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists.
- JaRayl Peoples: Added 6 points, two rebounds, and three assists, with clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch (2-for-2 in the second half).
Up Next
The men play their home opener against MUW at Kimbrell Arena on Saturday, November 15th, at 4:00 p.m.
