The YellowJackets (2-4, 1-3) jumped out to an early 7-0 lead and held the advantage most of the first half before the Indians (4-2, 3-1) went on a late run to take a 38-35 lead at halftime. In the second half, McMurry shot 62.5 percent from the floor and prevented LETU from ever taking the lead. Every time the ‘Jackets closed the lead, Elijah Bryant was there to hit a big three-pointer for the Indians. Bryant went 5-for-6 from behind the arc and prevented LETU from playing their zone defense.
Senior Julius McClaskey scored a game-high 28 points, 23 in the second half, on 8-of-17 shooting while pulling down six rebounds. Junior Travis Bankett continued to excel with 18 points and a career-high six assists. Freshman Tim Butler was the final YellowJacket to score in double figures. He tallied a career-high 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
“We played very well, but McMurry always had the answer,” said LETU head coach Bernie Balikian. “When we played zone, their outside shooting hurt us and when we went to man-to-man, their inside game took over. We shot the ball well and forced 22 turnovers, but it just goes to show you how tough the ASC is every night.”
Travis Tennison led the Indians with 22 points and a game-high 18 boards. Bryant finished the game with 19 points and four assists while Dustin Faught pumped in 10 points off the bench. Overall, McM shot 57.4 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three-point range.
The YellowJackets shot 44.3 percent from the floor and made 11-of-30 three-point attempts. LETU out scored the Indians from the foul line 17-to-14, but were out rebounded 44-to-28.
McMurry University vs LeTourneau YellowJackets 12/04/04 3:15 at Longview, TX - Solheim Arena At Longview, TX - Solheim Arena MCMURRY UNIVERSITY 92, LETOURNEAU YELLOWJACKETS 82 MCMURRY UNIVERSITY (4-2, 3-1) Travis Tennison 10-16 2-2 22; Elijah Bryant 6-7 2-2 19; Dustin Faught 4-7 2-4 10; Terence Mirabal 3-9 0-0 9; J.R. Williams 1-2 7-10 9; Cole Dickerson 4-5 0-1 8; Kelon Lewis 4-7 0-0 8; Matt Autry 3-7 1-3 7; Derek Faught 0-0 0-0 0; Cole Riggan 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 35-61 14-22 92. LETOURNEAU YELLOWJACKETS (2-4, 1-3) Julius McClaskey 8-17 9-15 28; Travis Bankett 7-12 1-2 18; Tim Butler 5-6 2-2 12; Jonathan Collins 2-7 1-2 6; Daniel McGraner 2-5 0-0 5; Brandon Morris 1-4 1-2 4; Joseph Solomon 1-4 0-0 3; Jeremiah Bastian 1-4 0-0 3; Joseph Richards 0-1 2-2 2; Joe Packard 0-1 1-2 1; Ryan Curtis 0-0 0-0 0; Zack Rodriguez 0-0 0-0 0; Ashton Torbert 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-61 17-27 82. McMurry University............ 38 54 - 92 LeTourneau YellowJackets...... 35 47 - 82 3-point goals-McMurry University 8-16 (Elijah Bryant 5-6; Terence Mirabal 3-6; Matt Autry 0-1; Dustin Faught 0-3), LeTourneau YellowJackets 11-30 (Travis Bankett 3-4; Julius McClaskey 3-7; Brandon Morris 1-4; Daniel McGraner 1-3; Jonathan Collins 1-4; Jeremiah Bastian 1-4; Joseph Solomon 1-3; Joseph Richards 0-1). Fouled out--McMurry University-Cole Dickerson, LeTourneau YellowJackets-None. Rebounds-McMurry University 44 (Travis Tennison 18), LeTourneau YellowJackets 28 (Julius McClaskey 6). Assists-McMurry University 24 (J.R. Williams 6), LeTourneau YellowJackets 13 (Travis Bankett 6). Total fouls-McMurry University 17, LeTourneau YellowJackets 18. A-674