ABILENE, TX – The McMurry War Hawks men's basketball team engaged in a relentless battle against LeTourneau University on Sunday afternoon at Kimbrell Arena, fighting through regulation to force overtime before ultimately falling 95-89. In a game characterized by intense swings of momentum, featuring 13 lead changes and five ties, the War Hawks showed tremendous resilience but couldn't quite close out the victory in the extra period.

McMurry started the contest with high energy, using defensive pressure to generate offense. The War Hawks built a 12-point lead in the first half, capitalizing on turnovers and converting them into points. However, the YellowJackets responded with a strong run to close the gap, leaving McMurry trailing by a narrow two-point margin at the break.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team willing to concede an inch. The War Hawks displayed poise from the charity stripe, shooting an impressive 89.5% (17-of-19) for the game, which helped them stay in control during critical moments. A late surge allowed McMurry to tie the game at 78-78 by the end of regulation, forcing the extra five minutes. Despite the War Hawks' best efforts and a balanced attack that saw the bench contribute 23 points, LeTourneau found a rhythm in overtime to pull away for the win. McMurry finished with 24 points off turnovers, highlighting their active defensive play throughout the afternoon.

Top War Hawk Performers

• Zack Rygg: Exploded for a team-high 26 points, shooting 8-of-15 from the field and 4-of-9 from three-point range. He was perfect from the free-throw line (6-for-6) and added six rebounds and four assists in a stellar all-around game.
• Jordan Malveaux: Provided a massive spark off the bench with 14 points on efficient 5-of-9 shooting. He was aggressive in attacking the basket, earning five trips to the line and converting four.
• Amari Leflore: Was a menace on defense with a team-high four steals while contributing 14 points and three rebounds. His perimeter shooting kept the War Hawks competitive throughout the contest.
• Jalen Cherry: Anchored the interior with 10 points and seven rebounds. He played nearly the entire game (39 minutes), battling inside against a tough LeTourneau frontcourt.

Up Next

Men's basketball will next play on the road at Concordia University in Austin next Friday, January 16th, at 5:30 pm.