Jan. 30, 2006

Final Stats

ABILENE, Texas - For the first time since the 1998 season, Hardin-Simmons' men's basketball team defeated McMurry at the Mabee Complex, as HSU overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to defeat the Indians 85-81 in American Southwest Conference action in front of 2,211 fans on Monday night.

McMurry jumped out to a 20-8 lead and never led by less than eight points the rest of the first half and took a 44-32 lead into the halftime locker room. McMurry hit seven 3-pointers in the first half and controlled the pace of play.

McMurry pushed its lead to 53-37 at the 17:35 mark of the second half, but the Cowboys roared back with a 13-0 run to cut it to 53-50 with 14:43 to play. In the run, Zach Pickelman scored nine points and Mardochee Jean scored four.

Brison Dailey hit a 3-pointer to make it 56-50 with 14:28 to play and then the Cowboys scored five straight, including a lay-up by Jean and a 3-pointer by Hale to make it 56-55. HSU took its first lead of the game at the 9:23 mark when Jean hit a pair of free throws to make it 59-58. From that point to the finish there were seven lead changes and five ties.

HSU took the lead for good on a Pickelman 3-pointer with 3:20 to play to make it 77-76. HSU sealed the game at the line after two hard fouls by Elijah Bryant.

Jean led the Cowboys effort with 26 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots in just 21 minutes of action. He fouled out with 1:55 to play. Pickelman had 25 points and scored the 1000th point of his HSU career.

Rommel Colina led McMurry with 19 points and Elijah Bryant had 16.

The Cowboys improved to 11-8 overall and 10-6 in ASC play. McMurry fell to 12-7 overall and 11-5 in ASC play.

--- HSU Athletics ---