Colorado College pulled away in the second half to earn an 80–67 win over McMurry University on Friday night at Reid Arena, improving to 4–3 in conference play.
Junior
Ty Hendler led CC with 19 points, while senior
Russell MacFarlane added 16 points and seven rebounds. Senior
Asher Nofziger finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocks, and now sits just nine points shy of becoming the next member of CC's 1,000-point club.
The Tigers dominated the glass, 50–29, including a 16–9 edge on the offensive boards, and held advantages in second-chance points (12–5), fast-break points (15–7) and bench scoring (34–15). CC shot 42.4 percent from the field and limited McMurry to 40.3 percent overall and 22.7 percent from three.
The Tigers carried a 37–33 lead into halftime after a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes that featured four lead changes and four ties. CC shot 54.5 percent from three in the first half and used a 7–0 run midway through the period to create its largest lead of the half, but McMurry answered late to keep the game within four at the break.
The second half opened with the War Hawks briefly taking a one-point lead, but CC quickly regained control behind strong interior play and pressure defense. A pair of free throws by
Ty Hendler and a layup from
Russell MacFarlane sparked a 10–2 stretch that pushed the Tigers back in front, and CC never trailed again.
Midway through the half, the Tigers began to separate. A three-point play by MacFarlane and a fast-break bucket from
Terrion Benson capped a 12–4 run that extended the lead to double digits.
McMurry trimmed the margin to six on two occasions, but each time CC responded with timely stops and second-chance points, including back-to-back putbacks by MacFarlane and a strong finish inside from
Christian Drummond to restore a comfortable cushion.
CC sealed the game at the free-throw line in the final four minutes, going 6-of-8 down the stretch while holding the War Hawks scoreless for nearly two minutes to push the lead to its largest at 80–65 before the final horn.