February 19th, 2009
Box Score
(Photo of Malcolm Dotson by Drew Engelke)
SEGUIN, Texas – The McMurry men’s basketball team kept its one-game lead in the American Southwest Conference West Division with a 69-54 win Thursday over Texas Lutheran.
At TLU’s Memorial Gymnasium, McMurry (17-7, 16-4 ASC) erased a five-point, second-half deficit with 57.7 percent shooting over the final 20 minutes. McMurry’s defense also forced the Bulldogs into a 7-for-28 shooting performance in the second half.
The loss ended TLU’s run at a spot in the ASC Championship Tournament. The Bulldogs needed two wins over its final two regular season games for a chance at the playoffs. Even with two wins, the Bulldogs would have needed help to finish among the top four in the ASC West Division. Now, TLU can do no better than fifth in the division.
TLU led 31-26 at the half and 37-32 with 16:32 to play in the game. McMurry turned the five-point deficit into a five-point lead over the next five minutes. Richard Jones had six points, all on lay-ups, as McMurry opened up its advantage. Jones finished with eight points and five rebounds off the McMurry bench.
The game was still a four-point affair, with McMurry leading 49-45 with 6:35 to play. McMurry’s Ricky Burney then went on a personal scoring spree. He made a lay-up, then a three-pointer and three free throws over the next two minutes.
With free throws down the stretch and TLU managing only two field goals over the final seven minutes, the McMurry lead ballooned to 20.
Burney led all scorers with 21 points. He added eight rebounds. Dewayne Hall chipped in 14 points, five assists and three steals. Jamal Anene grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds and collected seven points.
TLU received 15 points from point guard Malcolm Dotson (LaMarque/LaMarque) and 13 off the bench from wing Isaac Williams (San Antonio/Wagner). Josh Scott (The Woodlands/The Woodlands) pulled down 11 rebounds.
TLU concludes its 2008-09 season with a Saturday’s game against Hardin-Simmons. Game time in TLU’s Memorial Gymnasium is set for 3 p.m. TLU will have a live webcast and live stats from www.tlu.edu/athletics.