The Cru trailed by 10 points at halftime and fell behind 44-29 early in the second half. UMHB fought back and took a 68-61 lead with 3:56 remaining in regulation. McMurry battled back and took a 72-70 lead on Kenny Gardner’s steal and dunk with eight seconds to play. Ryan Burgart then nailed two clutch free throws for UMHB and Bud Willis missed a three at the buzzer to send the game to overtime. The Cru scored first in overtime before McMurry scored four straight to go up 76-74. Michael Ivey’s lay-up tied the game at 76 with 2:29 to go, but McMurry scored the final four points of the game to ice the victory.
Matt Dickey led the Cru with 18 points and nine rebounds and Ryan Burgart added 14 points and nine boards. Kevin Guyden had 14 points for the Cru but fouled out of the game and played just 13 minutes. Neiman Ford added 11 points before fouling out and Zane Johnston scored 10 for UMHB. Bud Willis topped McMurry with 17 points, Alvin Stevens and Drew Rigney added 14 points apiece and Gardner scored 10 for McMurry. UMHB shot 48 per cent from the field and held McMurry to 41 per cent shooting, but the Cru turned the ball over 30 times, leading to 32 McMurry points.
The Cru will close out the regular season with a 3:00 PM tip-off at Hardin-Simmons University Saturday afternoon in Abilene. The UMHB men can still clinch the #1 seed from the West Division with a win over the Cowboys or a McMurry loss to Concordia-Austin on Saturday.