The Austin College men's basketball team shot 55.3% from the field as a team and the 'Roos topped visiting Colorado College 72-61 on Sunday afternoon, giving the 'Roos their first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference victory of the season. The 'Roos are now 4-15 overall and 1-8 in SCAC play.
Fouls and turnovers were the story early as both the 'Roos and Tigers had trouble getting their offense going, with the Tigers taking a 10-8 lead eight minutes into the game. The 'Roos responded with a 9-0 run kicked off by an Andre Bryant three pointer as Austin College surged to a 17-10 lead with 8:16 left before halftime.
Four quick points from Jordan Hancock pushed the lead to 24-15 four minutes later, but five points from Ryan Milne helped the Tigers close the gap to 26-24 with three minutes remaining. A Justin Bernadino four point play with four seconds left looked like it would give Colorado College the momentum heading into the half, but Hancock found Bryant in the corner for a buzzer beating three pointer to send the 'Roos into the locker room leading 35-30.
A three by Milne pulled the Tigers to within two at 39-37 early in the second half, but five more points from Bryant helped extend the Austin College lead to 49-41 with 14:49 to play. The lead grew to 11 on a basket by Hancock to make it 56-45 with just under 10 minutes to play, and the Tigers would be unable to get the margin back under eight points the rest of the way. Alen Michael scored all seven of his points in the final 56 seconds, hitting 5-of-6 free throws and getting a breakaway dunk to seal the win.
Hancock finished with 17 points and five assists and Bryant hit 6-of-6 shots, including 3-of-3 from beyond the arc on his way to 15 points. Ransom Okpala and Walter Phillips each scored 10 points in the win.
Milne led all scorers with 22 points and added five assists and Chris Lesnansky scored 14 in the loss for Colorado College.
The 'Roos are off until Saturday when they host Centenary College in their final regular season home game of the year at 5:00 p.m.
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.