RICHARDSON, TX - The Mississippi College men's basketball team finished their 2010-11 season with a 77-69 loss to McMurry University on Friday afternoon in the First Round of the American Southwest Conference Tournament at the UTD Activity Center.

It is the eighth time the two teams have met in the postseason tournament with MC holding a 5-3 advantage.

The Choctaws opened with a flourish, taking a 36-30 lead into the halftime break after shooting 48% from the floor and holding McMurry to just 41%.

With 15:40 left in the second half, the Choctaws would take a 46-39 lead on a three-pointer by senior Kelvin Lester.  McMurry went on a 10-0 run to take a three-point lead with 12:10 to go in the game.

The Choctaws tied the game at 59 with 5:27 to go on a free throw from senior Ken Black but could not get over the hump in the loss.

MC was outrebounded 42-24 with no Choctaw grabbing more than four boards.  McMurry outscored the Choctaws, 26-11, in second-chance points.

Junior Marlon Ester led the Choctaws with 17 points, including going 3-4 from the three-point line.  Ken Black scored 13 points and pulled down four rebounds, but only had five points after the first five minutes of the game.

McMurry was led by Steven Jones with 19 points on 7-14 shooting.  Derick Sumpter scored 18 points, including pouring in 12 second half points.  Cameron Quinton tallied 10 second half points for McMurry.

The Choctaws (13-13) finished the 2010-11 campaign with their first non-winning season since 1987-88.

McMurry will move on to face the winner of the Hardin-Simmons/East Texas Baptist game at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.