UMHB opened the game with a 21-9 burst before McMurry cut the gap to seven points at 36-29 with 4:11 remaining in the half. The Crusaders then stretched it out to a 15-point lead before a late Indian three-pointer cut the gap to 46-34 at halftime. UMHB scored the first 10 points of the second half to stretch the lead to 22 and the Indians never got closer than 20 the rest of the way.
UMHB shot 52 per cent from the field and 36 per cent from three-point range. McMurry shot just 37 per cent from the field and turned the ball over 26 times. UMHB also out rebounded the Indians 46-30 and went 36-53 from the free-throw line in the victory.
Justin Schwartz led UMHB with 22 points and he added five steals, six rebounds and four assists. Patrick Oliver scored 21 points and added a game-high 13 rebounds for the Cru and Kevin Guyden chipped in with 15 points and five assists for UMHB. Eleven different players scored for UMHB. Elijah Bryant led McMurry with 22 points and Alvin Stevens came off the bench to score 12 points for the Indians.
The Crusaders advance to the ASC Championship Tournament for the seventh time in the past eight seasons. The UMHB men will open the ASC Tournament with a first round game against the ASC East Division #2 seed, either University of the Ozarks or East Texas Baptist. The tournament will be hosted by Howard Payne University next Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Brownwood.