Men's Hoops Earns Overtime Win Over Hendrix

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College men's basketball team never trailed against Hendrix College but the 'Roos needed five extra minutes to pick up an 81-74 overtime victory on Sunday afternoon in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 3-0 overall on the season.

The game was tied just twice, first at 3-3 two and a half minutes in and then again at 67 apiece heading into overtime, with the 'Roos leading the rest of the game. Both times the game became tied it was on a three pointer from Hendrix guard Sean Coman, who knocked down a triple with seven seconds left in regulation to force the extra period.

Austin College led by as many as 13 points in the opening half, eventually heading into halftime with a 40-30 lead. The 'Roos pushed the lead back to 13 early in the second half on a triple from Devin Roland, and extended the margin to 14 at 52-38 with 16:33 left in the game. The Warriors began to chip away at the deficit over the next three minutes, and back-to-back dunks by Seth Stanley and Carl Fitch trimmed it to a 53-49 game with 13:25 on the clock.

Roman Strickland scored five quick points and Kam Hogan added a jumper to push the lead to 60-49, but the 'Roos would score just one point over the next six and a half minutes as Hendrix made it a 61-59 game with 5:30 remaining. Austin College scored the next four points to make it a 65-59 game, but Hendrix fought back to within one at 65-64 with 26 seconds left. After a pair of free throws by Justice Mercadel, Coman knocked down his game-tying three to send it into overtime.

Austin College got back in control early in overtime, getting out to a 77-72 lead, and after a basket by Hendrix with 23 seconds left the 'Roos put the final four points on the board to make it an 81-74 final.

Roland and Meradel each scored 17 to lead Austin College and Michael Holland posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 boards. Roland and Meradel each grabbed seven rebounds, with Mercadel adding three assists and three steals. Hogan chipped in 10 points coming off the bench for the 'Roos.

Coman led all scorers with 26 points and Stanley added 20, and Fitch scored 12 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for the Warriors.

Austin College and Hendrix will meet again next weekend, as the 'Roos hit the road to take on the Warriors in Conway, Arkansas on November 23 at 4:00 p.m.