ABILENE- McMurry & University of Dallas met in a big conference matchup at Kimberly Arena on Saturday afternoon. 

Dallas was able to get the win in the hard fought contest by a score of 85-82. Dallas improved to 10-12 on the year while McMurry dropped to 6-15 on the season. 

The early stages of the game were tightly contested as both teams came out with high levels of intensity, as to be expected in a big game that both teams looked at as a "must win" game. 

Both teams traded baskets as the game saw its fair share of back and forth action in the first half. Dallas was able to get some separation around the 9 minute mark when they went on an 8-0 run. McMurry would stop the run and get a couple buckets, but the Crusaders answered with another 6-0 run to push their lead up to 13. McMurry cut the deficit to 9 going into the locker room, looking to build off their momentum they closed the half with. 

In the second half, McMurry and Dallas traded blows once again. Dallas seemed to want to open the game up as they went up by 16 3 different times in the first 8 minutes of the half, but McMurry had an answer each time. The War Hawks would not go away in this one as they battled all the way to end trying to even the score. 

McMurry would get a few big 3 pointers and a transition run-out to cut the lead to 6 with 2 minutes left, & then cut it to 3 with under a minute left, but they ran out of time as Dallas was able to ice the game away in the end to get the win by a score of 85-82. 

McMurry was led by Matt Pena with 15 points, followed by Jalen Cherry with 14 points, while Dallas was led by Thomas Fleming with 30 points. 

The War Hawks are back in action tomorrow as they take on Austin College at 2:00PM at Kimbrell Arena.