LeTourneau University Athletics

LONGVIEW, Texas -- A late 7-0 run erased a five-point deficit and the LeTourneau men's basketball team held off McMurry, 73-70, in the season opener on Friday night inside Solheim Arena.

LeTourneau (1-0) has won 10 of its last 11 season openers.

The YellowJackets trailed 60-55 with under four minutes remaining in the game, but used a 7-0 run to take the lead for good. Jaydrien Henderson opened the run with a layup and a Cooper Smith 3-pointer at the 2:34 mark gave the YellowJackets a 62-60 lead. 

Defensive stops and free throws down the stretch sealed the win for LeTourneau. The YellowJackets made 13-of-15 from the foul line in the second half, including 11-of-12 in the final two minutes of the game.

Henderson -- making his collegiate debut -- and Jayden Prioleau had 12 points each to lead the way for LeTourneau. Henderson scored eight points in the second half, all of which came in the final eight minutes. Dionisio Martinez had 11 points with four rebounds and three assists, while Smith added a near double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds with three assists.

Jace Jeffries and Max Frels had eight points apiece. Jeffries, making his LeTourneau debut, dished out a team-high four assists.

Both teams struggled to find the range in the first half, but LeTourneau held a 29-25 lead at the break. McMurry (0-1) took its largest lead of the night at 54-47 with 7:53 remaining after a JaRayl Peoples bucket that capped a 10-0 run for the visiting War Hawks.

LeTourneau finished the night connecting on 37.7 percent (23-of-61) from the field, but shot 48.3 percent (14-of-29) in the second half. The YellowJackets made 21-of-27 at the free throw line.

McMurry was led by 13 points and five rebounds from Peoples and 11 points from Sebastian Mackey. The War Hawks made 48.2 percent (27-of-56) for the game, but committed 19 turnovers.

UP NEXT

LeTourneau travels to face Mary Hardin-Baylor on Wednesday in Belton (6 p.m.).

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