ABILENE, TEXAS – Hitting at a red-hot 51.3 percent clip from the field … roaring out to a 53-13 lead … putting a five-game skid in the rearview mirror.
Any superlatives from a fast-paced, high-octane 109-81 American Southwest Conference win over nearby rival Howard Payne University could have been memorable for head coach Zach Pickelman's team. However, he, his coaching staff, and his team pointed to a shot made by junior guard C.J. LeBlanc (Dallas, Texas) with 8:34 to go in the first half at the top of the headline list.
LeBlanc's long-range bomb found nothing but net for his 11th, 12th, and 13th points of the game. More importantly than that, it marked the 998th, 999th, and 1000th points of his stellar collegiate career.
"I couldn't have done any of this without those guys in the locker room," he admitted post-game. "Reaching 1000 points is something nice to remember, but it was about working together to get this win."
"Hitting four figures in career scoring is never easy at any level," Pickelman reflected. "To do it during a junior season is even more special."
LeBlanc's career milestone, making him the first Maroon, Black and White player to do so since 2019-20, was part of a 27-point, nine-rebound, three-assist night in front of an appreciative home crowd at Kimbrell Arena. The War Hawks penchant for producing multiple double-figure scorers continued, as freshman guard/forward Elijah Lomas (San Antonio, Texas) registered a personal single-game high 19 points; freshman front courter K.C. Udolisa (Sugar Land, Texas) tallied 13 points and seven rebounds; and sophomore forward/center T.J. Hilliard (New Orleans, La.) finished with 10 points and led a blocked shot party for the defensive effort with two.
"This was a needed win," Pickelman continued. "It's time to build off this and keep pushing forward. It was nice to have a game where we got out in front quickly and maintained the large advantage, for the most part, throughout."
McMurry (5-13, 4-7 ASC) travels to Alpine, Texas, Saturday, Jan. 28. Game time against the Lobos of Sul Ross State University is 3:30 p.m. at SRSU's Gallego Center.