'Roo Men's Hoops Falls Late to Trinity

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Austin College men's basketball team saw its six-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday in San Antonio, falling 71-68 at Trinity. The 'Roos are now 12-9 overall and 9-5 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

After taking a 36-33 lead into halftime, the 'Roos came out strong in the second half and grew the lead to 54-40 on a triple by Devin Roland with 11 and a half minutes remaining. Michael Holland's three kept the margin at 14 points when he made it 57-43 a minute later, but Trinity began to chip away and cut it to a 59-52 game at the 7:57 mark. The gap narrowed to 64-61 with 5:18 left in the game, and the Tigers knotted things up at 68 apiece with 1:55 left. Austin College would remain scoreless the rest of the way, and the Tigers managed to get what would prove to be the game-winning free throws from Stephen Molina with 1:24 on the clock.

Roland finished with 18 points to lead the 'Roos, knocking down 8-of-12 field goal attempts, including 2-of-4 from long distance. Justice Mercadel added 16 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and three steals, and Holland chipped in 10 points and six boards. Austin College hit just 5-of-18 threes as a team, and were out-scored from the free throw line 21-to-5. 

The 'Roos are back in Sherman for their final two home games of the season on Friday and Saturday, taking on Southwestern on Friday evening before hosting a Senior Day tilt against Texas Lutheran on Saturday.