| Matt Garnett's McMurry team will face a D-I team in
a regular-season home game when Southern Methodist comes to
Kimbrell Arena on Dec. 18. McMurry athletics photo by Brian Schmidt |
HOUSTON - Unfortunately it won't go down as Matt Garnett's first
win as head men's basketball coach at McMurry, but he and his team
had a huge lift Saturday night when it took down NCAA Division I
Houston Baptist on its home floor 64-60 at Sharp Gym in exhibition
action.
McMurry outrebounded HBU 40-26 including 17-6 on the offensive
glass to help pace the visitors to victory. Four of McMurry's
players scored in double figures and were able to overcome HBU's
Andrew Gonzalez's 30 points to take the victory.
"I was very proud of the way our guys competed. More than anything
else, we were able to make enough hustle plays to find a way to
win," said Garnett. "The guys were very excited to win the game,
but our focus for the game was to find out where we are as a team.
There are many things that we will have to do much better in order
to compete this season."
The Huskies shot 47 percent from the floor and held McMurry to 39
percent, however, HBU was unable to overcome McMurry's 13
second-chance points and the bench outscored the Huskies 22-17.
Teddy Chambers scored 15 points and grabbed 10 boards while Steven
Johunkin had 15 and eight respectively off the bench. Bryant Taylor
and Steven Jones also had 12 and 11 points respectively. McMurry
led by 12 points at halftime and led by as many as 18 in the second
half before holding off the HBU rally. The Huskies outscored
McMurry 38-30 in the second half.
HBU disappointed its homecoming crowd of 831 fans, but Garnett
said it was good for McMurry to play in the intense atmosphere.
"The homecoming crowd created a playoff type environment. As far
as what you would like to get out of an exhibition game, having to
opportunity to play in that kind of environment was great," said
Garnett. "We handle some aspects of it well, and others need a
great deal of work. It is always a positive when you are put in
those type of situations early in the year."
McMurry begins its regular season Nov. 15 against Barclay College
in Abilene at Kimbrell Arena.