| Matt Addison and
Hardin-Simmons sent McMurry packing in the last scheduled
basketball game between the crosstown rivals. HSU athletics photo |
ABILENE, Texas — Matt Addison scored 25 of his game-high 32 points in the second half as Hardin-Simmons beat crosstown rival McMurry 101-95 in American Southwest Conference action at the Mabee Complex on Monday night.
McMurry came into the game leading the nation with a 17.5 rebound margin average and the Cowboys outrebounded the War Hawks 52-48. George Nelson had 12 points and 12 rebounds and Andy Spears had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Addison took only eight field goal attempts in the second half and he scored the 25 points in just 13 minutes of action. He was one of six Cowboys in double figures. Derrick Jefferson and John Derr each had 13 points and Jim Walter had 10 joining Nelson and Spears in double figures.
HSU used a 13-4 run midway through the first half to take a 25-17 lead with 9:01 to play on a Terrance Booker 3-pointer. McMurry answered right back with eight straight points to tie the game after Bryce Hill hit back-to-back 3-pointers.
McMurry scored the last four points of the first half to take a 44-40 halftime lead. Spears and Nelson scored 11 straight points for the Cowboys and Nelson's 3-pointer tied the game at 58 with 13:24 to play.
HSU trailed 76-73 on a Jaden Isler layup with 5:22 to play but HSU responed with seven straight points. Walter hit two free throws, Addison had a layup and Derr buried a triple to give HSU an 80-75 lead with 4:20 to play. Derr gave the Cowboys another five-point lead with a 3-pointer at the 2:18 mark making it 87-82.
Bryce Hill led McMurry with 24 points and Alfred Perez, starting for an injured Steven Jones, had 22 points to pace four McMurry players in double figures.
The Cowboys, who have struggled at the free throw line at times this season, were solid on Monday hitting 29-of-34, including 15-of-15 by Addison. HSU was 26-for-30 in the second half and 16-of-18 in the final three minutes with McMurry playing the foul game.
The final game of the series gave HSU a 43-41 all-time advantage in the series. The game was a classic featuring 13 ties and 17 lead changes and neither team led by more than eight points.
HSU is now 15-4 overall and 12-3 in ASC action. McMurry fell to 13-6 overall and 9-6 in league play. HSU has a three-game lead over McMurry and Concordia in the ASC West and is two games behind leader Mary Hardin-Baylor. HSU plays at Texas Lutheran on Thursday.
--- HSU ---