ABILENE, TX - The McMurry War Hawks men's basketball team faced a formidable challenge on their home court at Kimbrell Arena, battling the No. 4 ranked University of St. Thomas Celts to a 66-82 final score. Despite the setback against the unbeaten conference leaders, the War Hawks displayed resilience and offensive efficiency, particularly at the free-throw line, where they converted at an impressive 92.9 percent.
St. Thomas seized control early, maintaining the lead throughout the contest and utilizing their size in the paint to build an advantage. However, McMurry refused to back down, matching the Celts' intensity for stretches and finding rhythm from beyond the arc, hitting 36 percent of their three-point attempts. The War Hawks showed their fighting spirit until the final buzzer, putting together a late 9-0 scoring run to close out the game on a high note.
While the visitors controlled the interior outscoring McMurry in the paint, the War Hawks found success at the charity stripe, missing just one free throw the entire afternoon (13-of-14). The team also handled the ball reasonably well under pressure, surrendering fewer points off turnovers than they generated in transition in the second half.
Top War Hawk Performers
Jeremiah Talib: Paced the War Hawks offense with a team-high 16 points in 27 minutes of action. He was highly efficient from the floor, shooting 6-of-9 overall and draining 4-of-7 from three-point range.
Amari Leflore: Provided a spark with 12 points and facilitated the offense with three assists. He was a reliable presence at the line, sinking 4-of-5 free throws while logging a team-high 33 minutes.
Koye Rondeno: Contributed on both ends of the floor, finishing with 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting. He also filled the stat sheet with three assists, two rebounds, and a team-high two steals.
Jalen Cherry: Anchored the War Hawks on the glass, pulling down a team-best seven rebounds. He added five points and a block while battling in the paint for 31 minutes.
Up Next
The men's next game will be on the road on Friday, February 13, against Austin College in Sherman, TX, at 6:00 p.m.
