The Austin College men's basketball team struggled on the offensive end, shooting just 32.1% from the field as a team and lost the turnover battle 16-to-5 as the 'Roos fell 79-63 to visiting Trinity University on Saturday in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 7-13 overall and 3-8 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play on the year.
The 'Roos fell in an 8-0 hole early before a Jeremy Swisher three pointer with 15:06 left in the first half, and after an Alvin Michael basket made it 11-5 with 12:13 left the Tigers scored six in a row to go on top 17-5. Austin College pulled to within 21-15 on a pair of free throws by Alan Sullivan, and an Austin Freet bucket made it 23-17 with 7:32 left before the half.
The Tigers responded by scoring the next seven points, and the lead grew to 38-22 with 2:58 remaining in the first half. However, the 'Roos ended the half in strong fashion with Kevin Graham and Josh Dickerman each drilling a three pointer to pull it to within 38-28 heading into the locker room.
That would be as close as Austin College would get the rest of the way as Trinity opened the second half with a 21-5 run to make it 59-33 with just under 10 minutes left in the game. A Brian Baehl three point play made it 67-44 with 5:46 left, and Ransom Okpala knocked down back to back corner three pointers to pull the 'Roos to within 17 at 69-52 with 4:10 left to play.
Austin College got the margin down to 14 at 75-61 on an Okpala jumper with 1:04 left, but the Tigers knocked down four free throws in the final minute to ice the game and hand the 'Roos the loss.
Okpala scored all 20 of his points in the second half and hit 3-of-6 three pointers in the game while pulling down five rebounds. Swisher was the only other 'Roo in double figures, scoring 12 in the loss. Baehl finished with seven points, seven assists, and six rebounds, and Freet grabbed 13 boards.
Robert Kitzinger led the Tigers with 18 points and Jonathan Wilt scored 10 with five rebounds for Trinity. The Tigers hit just 4-of-17 threes but made 25 free throws and grabbed 18 offensive boards.
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.