'Roo Men Fall to UT-Tyler 78-68

SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College men's basketball team was out-scored 26-10 from the free throw line and that proved to be the biggest difference in a 78-68 loss to the University of Texas-Tyler on Wednesday afternoon in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 3-6 overall on the season.

The 'Roos knocked down just 10-of-24 attempts from the line while UT-Tyler hit 26-of-36, and a key 12-0 run late in the first half put the Patriots in control. Austin College got out to a hot start, taking a 22-14 lead midway through the half following a jumper from Jeremy Swisher. The Patriots trimmed it to a three point game before Austin Wells scored to extend the 'Roo lead to 26-21 with 7:11 left before halftime.

However, that's when the Patriots would score 12 unanswered to grab a 33-26 lead three minutes later and the margin would wind up at 36-32 with UTT on top heading into the locker room.

The teams traded baskets throughout the first few minutes in the second half, with a Brian Baehl bucket pulling Austin College to within two at 44-42 with 14:06 to play. The Patriots would respond with a 9-0 run, capped off by a three from Davis Moore to make it 53-42 with just under 12 minutes remaining.

The UT-Tyler lead grew to as much as 15 on a basket by Verlo Levels to make it 66-51 with 5:20 left in the game, and the Patriots held a 72-59 edge with just over two minutes left in the game. However, Austin College would make one more comeback attempt, with Andres Rivera and Wells each knocking down a triple, and Wells completing a three-point play to get the deficit down to six points at 74-68 with 39 seconds to play but that's as close as things would get.

Baehl finished with 15 points, five assists, and five rebounds to lead Austin College and Wells finished with 13. Austin Freet added 12 points and five boards, and Jeremy Swisher scored 11 points and pulled down six rebounds. JP Feider had eight points and 10 rebounds for the 'Roos.

Levels hit 9-of-15 shots to lead all scorers with 19 points, adding nine rebounds, and Skyler Hadden and Moore chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively, for UT-Tyler.

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