Defense Carries Men's Hoops to Win over Hendrix

The Austin College men's basketball team had 15 blocked shots, 11 steals, and held Hendrix to just 27% shooting as they cruised to an 81-61 victory on Thursday evening in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 3-3 overall this season with the win.

The 'Roos jumped out to a 13-4 lead early following five quick points from Jordan Hancock, and the 'Roos swatted away seven Hendrix shots in the game's opening six minutes to help build that early lead. Hendrix battled back to square things up at 18 apiece with 9:24 remaining, but a bucket by Hancock, a three from Jeremy Swisher, a tip from Alan Sullivan, and two free throws from Cody Meyers accounted for a 9-0 run to make it a 27-18 game with 5:47 left before the break.

Swisher knocked down another trey and completed a three point play to help extend the lead to 35-24, but the Warriors used a quick 5-2 spurt to end the half trailing 36-29. Austin College wasted little time pushing the lead back to double digits as the second half opened, with Brian Baehl scoring seven and Ransom Okpala adding four, and a Kevin Graham three made it 50-35 with 16:07 left in the game.

Okpala scored six more and Baehl added another short jumper, and Sullivan drilled a three as the 'Roos pushed the margin to 61-43 with 10:11 remaining. Hendrix battled back to cut it to a 61-50 game with 8:19 left, but Okpala scored two more baskets and a Meyers three pointer pushed it back to a 70-56 game with just over five minutes left. Okpala would score seven more points over the game's final three minutes to make it an 81-61 final.

Okpala scored all 21 of his points in the second half and added 11 rebounds, five steals, four assists, and two blocks to lead the 'Roos. Hancock finished with 14, Swisher had 12, and Baehl added 11, while Alvin Michael blocked eight shots in the game.

Jordan Barrett came off the bench to score 19 to lead Hendrix, while Will Roland added 12 and Alec Conard had 10 in the loss.

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 residential 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.