'Roo Men's Hoops Falls to UT-Dallas

The Austin College men's basketball team found itself in a 12 point halftime hold and was unable to dig itself out, falling 67-56 to the University of Texas-Dallas on Tuesday night in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 2-2 overall this season with the loss.

The 'Roos shot just 27.6% in the first half as the Comets shot out to a 35-23 lead, with Carter Nash and Kyle Schleigh leading UTD to the halftime lead by scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively, before the break. A basket by Nash put the Comets ahead 11-4 with 12:08 left, and after five quick points from Jeremy Swisher to cut it to 15-9, Nash scored four in a row to push it to a 19-9 game with 9:53 left to play.

After a Kevin Graham basket and a Brian Baehl free throw cut it to 25-16, the Comets used an 8-2 lead to jump out to a 33-18 lead with 1:21 remaining. Swisher got a basket and Ransom Okpala got a three point play to trim it to a 35-23 margin heading into halftime.

Austin College came out hot to start the second half, with Graham scoring six points as the 'Roos cut it to a 39-33 game with 16:46 left to play, and two minutes later a three point play by Baehl pulled Austin College within five at 43-38. Nash responded with six points for UTD as the Comets pushed the lead back to 49-40 with 10:14 left in the game, but a bucket from Jordan Hancock and four free throws from Baehl pulled the 'Roos to within three at 49-46.

UTD made it a 51-46 game before Austin College scored five in a row with a three pointer from Graham to knot things at 51 with 7:28 on the clock, but the Comets scored 10 unanswered to open up a 61-51 lead with 3:40 left and put the game away.

Graham led the 'Roos with 15 points while Baehl hit 8-of-9 free throws on his way to 12 points off the bench. Swisher finished with 12 as the 'Roos shot 34.5% from the field, and were out-rebounded 43-25 in the game.

Scleigh finished with 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead UTD and Nash added 19 points and eight rebounds. Matthew Medell scored 12 for the Comets.

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.