MARSHALL, Texas – Playing in its home opener, the East Texas Baptist University men's basketball team shot a season-high 51.7 percent from the floor en route to a 105-91 victory over McMurry (Texas) University. The win advances ETBU's record to 4-1, and moves their win streak at home to 23 games.

Both teams had five players finish in double figures. For ETBU, Jamil Samuel finished with 24 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Dylan Augustine contributed 21 points and five rebounds and Wilbert Thomas totaled 14 points and 12 rebounds for his second straight double-double. Isaiah Thomas chipped in 12 points and three blocks while Jordan Quillian had 11 points and five rebounds.

During the opening half, ETBU converted 15-of-30 shots from the field for an even 50.0 percent success rate. Meanwhile, McMurry hit 28.9 percent of its first-half field goal attempts (11-of-38) but did convert 15-of-17 free-throw shots, good enough for 88.2 percent. Additionally, ETBU claimed a 25-to-16 edge in first-half rebounding.

Neither team went ahead by more than four points in the first seven minutes. ETBU converted three-straight shots as well as five-of-six attempts to open the night. Conversely, McMurry missed three consecutive shots to begin the night and just six-of-16 shots in the opening seven-plus minutes (37.5 percent). Yet McMurry went ahead, 20-17, following a Chris Cerny 3-pointer at the 12:44 mark. Also McMurry did not have a turnover until over seven and 30 seconds into the game.

A string of seven-straight ETBU points pushed it ahead, 24-20. In that spurt, Thomas converted back-to-back free throws and Jamil Samuel had a basket as well as a three-pointer. Two-consecutive three-point baskets by Cerny, however, drew McMurry to within a single point at 27-26. Some back-and-forth action ensued, and ETBU held a 44-41 edge with 2:18 until halftime. ETBU then scored 13-straight points to assume a 57-41 halftime advantage. In that span, four different players scored for ETBU, including five points by Augustine and another four points by Quillian.

In the second half, ETBU's lead swelled to as large as 21 points and dwindled to only as low as dozen points on the way to the victory. ETBU shot 53.3 from the floor in the second half, converting 16-of-30 shots.

For McMurry, Cerny had 18 points and Calvin McGee and Nate Estrada had 13 points. Thierry Tchenko contributed 11 points and seven rebounds.

ETBU opens its American Southwest Conference schedule on Saturday when it hosts Hardin-Simmons (Texas) University at 3 p.m.