Abram Choate, SID

BROWNWOOD, TX – The Yellow Jackets shot an unstoppable 61.9% from the floor and downed the Indians of McMurry, 107-85 on Thursday in the Brownwood Coliseum.

HPU out-rebounded McMurry 46 to 32, but the Jackets did have 31 turnovers to McMurry's 23. All five starters scored in double digits led by Jr. G Kendrick Johnson(Willowridge HS) who scored a season high 28 points on 12 of 18 shooting.

At the start of the first half it was all McMurry as they stormed out to an early 11-4 lead at the 17:53 mark. McMurry extended their lead to 13 on a 3-pointer by Finlay Brashears with 15:16 before halftime. HPU came roaring back from that point and in 3 minutes time cut the McM led to 1 on a 3-pointer by Sr. G Matt Zinser(Burnet HS) with 12:19 before halftime. The led changed back and forth from there till the 5:30 mark when HPU took the lead for good and went into the locker room leading 52-49.

In the second half HPU opened its lead to 9 on a 3-pointer by Kendrick Johnson to make the score 61-52 HPU. From there it was all HPU as they again expanded their lead to as much 25 over the next 12 minutes of the game. The great play was sparked by Kendrick Johnson's 22 second half points on 10 of 15 shooting from the field. Great inside play by Jr. F Sean Wheeler's(San Angelo-Lake View HS) 12 second half points helped the HPU cause.

Kendrick Johnson led all scorers with a season high 28 points on 12 of 18 shooting. Sean Wheeler and Sr. C Cliff McGuire(Haskell HS) scored 18 apiece with McGuire picking up 12 rebounds also. Jr. G Jamarcus Johnson(Beaver County CC) scored 16 points with 9 assists, and Matt Zinser scored 15 points with 12 rebounds.

McMurry was led by Finlay Brashears' 16 points, Fred Baker scoring 13 with 10 rebounds, and Terence Mirabal with 10 points.

The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Saturday, January 14 against Hardin-Simmons in the Brownwood Coliseum at 3:00PM.