Sunday, February 9, 1997

American Southwest Conference up for grabs

By TED DUNNAM / Sports Writer

One team is going to finish first in the American Southwest Conference and one will finish last.

And the difference between the two will probably be as slim as the difference between McMurry University's 71-69 men's basketball win Saturday over Hardin-Simmons University.

No team is a sure winner and none has gone unscathed.

"Coach (Ron) Holmes told us that it doesn't matter which team has the most talent in this league," McMurry center Danny Wisniewski said. "It's which team wants it the most.

"The last time, obviously Hardin-Simmons wanted it the most. Today, we did."

With the Indians' win Saturday, McMurry remained a full game behind conference leader Austin College and tied with Howard Payne. However, Austin College still must play at HPU, HSU, McMurry and College of the Ozarks.

Don't expect the Kangaroos to bounce through that road trip without a few blemishes being administered.

Fortunately for Holmes, he doesn't have to face HSU again this year. The Cowboys came within one shot of sending the Indians to defeat for the second time this season.

And once again, it was Justin Moore and Bernard Combs doing the damage. Combs made 8 of 11 shots from the field and Moore sank 10 of 16 as each poured in 21 points.

"Justin and Bernard. What can you say? It's the same old story," Holmes said. "They come to play every game."

On this day, McMurry did also. The Indians probably played just as well as HSU, they simply didn't shoot as well. When HSU shut down McMurry's inside game, the Indians had to rely on their outside shooting.

They didn't respond, hitting just 2 of 20 shots from 3-point range.

However, the Indians' tenacity on the offensive boards (14 rebounds) paid dividends, and their ability to force turnovers at critical times proved benefical.

McMurry scored the first eight points of the game and held a 28-18 first-half lead before going ice cold.

"There are about five or six of us in here that have the flu bug," McMurry guard Chris Brown said. "Those first five or 10 minutes, we went at it real hard and we got a pretty good lead.

"But after that, it catches up with you. We just couldn't keep going at the same pace as we did earlier."

Brown finished the game with 12 points, eight assists and five steals while Wisniewski had 21 points and eight rebounds and scored eight of McMurry's final 13 points.

"Almost all of my points came off dishes," Wisniewski said. "That's the story of my life. They just shut down our inside game in the first half, and we had to get penetration in the second half to get anything inside."

Wisniewski said he was also frustrated by HSU's hot shooting.

"Man, Justin came out hot and stayed that way. They've got good motion in their offense and get good looks at the basket."

In addition to the hot shooting by Moore and Combs, reserve Chris Wilkins was 7 of 11 from the field.

Somehow, though, McMurry managed to counter all of that.

"My heart popped out of my chest when I saw Ryan take that shot. He can hit that," Wisniewski said. "I don't know how we won, other than maybe just wanting it more. This was a must win for us. Now, we've just got to get ready for the next one."

And Holmes doesn't know if he wants to.

"This is enough of these games," the McMurry coach said. "I can't take any more."