Ransom Okpala scored 23 points and Alen Michael posted a double-double as the Austin College men's basketball team pulled away from visiting Hendrix College in the second half to earn a 71-61 victory on Tuesday afternoon in Hughey Gym. The win snaps a nine game skid and brings the team's record to 2-9 this season.
The 'Roos raced out to a 10-1 lead early on thanks to a pair of threes from Aaron Anwary and four quick points from Michael, but the Warriors caught fire from three point range and battled back to square things at 18 with 7:28 left in the first half.
The hot shooting of the Warriors continued as a Jaren Riley three put Hendrix on top 21-18, and after an Okpala triple put Austin College back on top moments later, Alec Conard would hit two of his six first half threes to help give Hendrix a 35-33 lead. However, Okpala's jumper with 10 seconds remaining sent the teams into halftime tied at 35. Hendrix knocked down 8-of-17 threes in the first half, including 6-of-7 from Conard.
Austin College opened the second half with a 10-4 run to go on top 45-39, and after the Warriors fought back to make it a two point game, Anwary hit his third trey of the game to push it to a 49-44 game with 10:27 left. The margin grew to 53-44 on a Jimmy King steal and breakaway layup moments later, and Hendrix would be unable to get the margin under six points the rest of the way. An emphatic dunk by Michael and five points from Okpala in the final 33 seconds iced the game for the 'Roos.
Okpala hit 9-of-13 shots, including 2-of-4 from deep on his way to a game-high 23 points. Michael scored 17 points and added 11 boards and Anwary hit 3-of-4 from deep on his way to 12 points, five steals, and four rebounds as the 'Roos shot 50% in the second half and 44.8% overall in the game and hounded Hendrix into 20 turnovers.
Conard scored all 20 of his points in the first half to lead four Warriors in double figures, with Colton Primm scoring 13 points and grabbing 14 rebounds and Riley and Luke Vance each chipping in 10 points.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
About Austin College
Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope's influential book Colleges that Change Lives.