SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College men's basketball team struggled to get anything going offensively on Friday night, shooting just 27.4% from the field and falling 66-54 to Texas Lutheran in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play. The 'Roos fall to 7-9 overall and 3-3 in the SCAC with the loss.
Three pointers from Aaron Anwary and Brian Baehl put the 'Roos on top 8-5 early, and after a 7-0 run by the Bulldogs, Austin College stormed back with a 10-0 run of their own. Jeremy Swisher and Anwary buried treys to key the run, as Austin College took an 18-12 lead with 7:51 left in the opening half. The lead would grow to as much as eight at 24-16 before an 8-1 run for TLU cut it to a three point margin. However, Swisher's bucket with 14 seconds on the clock sent Austin College into the break leading 27-22.
After four quick points from Austin Freet made it a 31-24 game early in the second half, Thomas Verm, Sterling Thomas, and Zach Behr combined for the next 10 for TLU as the Bulldogs charged ahead 34-31. A three point play by Baehl knotted things at 34 with 13:01 to go, but the 'Roos would go scoreless for the next four minutes as TLU jumped out to a 42-34 lead with 9:29 to play.
Brian Baehl finally got the 'Roos on the board again with a free throw at the 9:07 mark, but it wouldn't be until four and a half minutes remaining that Austin College would manage to hit another field goal. Texas Lutheran pushed the lead to 53-40 as the 'Roos were able to get five points at the free throw line, and Freet's layup with 4:24 left to play marked the first Austin College field goal since the 13:01 mark.
Baehl would score in the lane to cut it to a 55-44 game with 3:48 to play, and Anwary hit a three pointer as the 'Roos tried to stay with TLU down the stretch but Austin College was unable to chip away at the lead over the game's final minutes. The Bulldog lead grew to as much as 17 at 65-48 before back to back threes from Josh Dickerman and Josh Quinn made it a 66-54 final.
Baehl led all scorers with 19 points on 4-of-8 shooting and hit 10-of-13 from the free throw line, while adding eight rebounds and three assists. Anwary scored all nine of his points from beyond the arc, hitting 3-of-9 attempts from long range, and Freet and Swisher each chipped in seven points.
Behr led the Bulldogs with 18 points and Verm finished with 12 points and six boards. Holmes added 11 points, eight rebounds, and three assists for TLU. The Bulldogs out-scored the 'Roos 30-13 from the free throw line in the game as the teams were whistled for a combined 60 fouls.
Austin College will be looking to rebound tomorrow as they host Southwestern University at 6:00 p.m.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.