Late Bucket Lifts 'Roo Men's Hoops to Third Straight Win

Photo by Joe Fusco | D3Photography.com
Photo by Joe Fusco | D3Photography.com

SHERMAN, Texas – Eghosa Igbinosa's jumper with 54 seconds remaining put Austin College on top, and another rebound and basket by Igbinosa would ice the game in a 71-66 victory over Schreiner University on Saturday. The 'Roos have won three in a row to improve to 7-6 overall and 3-0 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

Both teams came out  firing in the first half, with three pointers from Aaron Anwary and Alan Sullivan putting Austin College ahead 11-7 before Schreiner's Jared Thompson scored 10 in a row to help the Mountaineers take a 17-15 lead with 11:35 left in the opening half. Cedric Hudson scored five quick points and Sullivan added a three to help give Austin College a 23-17 lead with 10:29 on the clock.

The lead grew to 27-19 on a four point play by Kevin Graham, but Wes Miller scored six of the next eight points for Schreiner as the Mountaineers cut it to a 31-27 game with seven minutes left before halftime. Brian Baehl's three pushed it back to a double-digit margin at 37-27, and after Schreiner cut it to a four point game the 'Roos got a last second bucket from Hudson to head into the locker room leading 40-33.

Austin College's lead grew to 11 points after a basket by Hudson with 13:18 left in the game, but the Mountaineers were able to cut it to a 53-47 game with just over 10 minutes to play. Two free throws from Jeremy Swisher pushed it to an eight point game, but Schreiner would use an 11-0 run capped off by a three from Keenan Gumbs to take a 58-55 lead with 5:49 showing on the clock.

Over the next four minutes the game saw three lead changes and two ties, with Thompson scoring to put Schreiner up 66-65 with 1:25 left to play. With 54 seconds remaining, Igbinosa knocked down a 12 footer to give Austin College the lead for good. Igbinosa would then snag an offensive rebound on a missed free throw and score on a putback, giving him four points and three rebounds in the final minute of the game to help seal the win.

Hudson finished with 18 points and five rebounds to lead Austin College, and Baehl and Sullivan each chipped in 11 in the win. Baehl added five assists, and Swisher finished the game with 10 points for the 'Roos.

Miller and Thompson each had 18 for Schreiner, and Christian Pena added 11 points and seven boards in the loss.

Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.