SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College men's basketball team bounced back from its first loss of the season last night with a 77-65 victory over visiting Southwestern, as the 'Roos shot 54.9% from the field and dominated the glass with a 43-27 rebounding margin. The 'Roos are now 3-1 overall on the year.
Michael Holland scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Austin College, hitting 6-of-10 attempts from the field and adding five steals as the 'Roos led by as many as 14 points while holding Southwestern to 34.5% shooting as a team. Austin College scored the first four points of the game to take an early lead before Southwestern took their first and only advantage of the game at 13-10 with 13:01 left before the break. Joshua Joe knocked down a three and Jaylyn Cleamons scored inside to make it 15-13, and the 'Roos would lead the rest of the way.
After the Pirates cut it to a 27-24 advantage for the 'Roos with 5:22 left before halftime, Austin College would close the half with an 11-5 run to go into the break leading 38-29. Joe scored 11 points for Austin College in the opening 20 minutes, as Austin College shot 13-of-25 from the field while Southwestern went just 9-of-27, including 1-of-12 from beyond the arc.
Austin College got the scoring started in the second half to take a 40-29 lead but Southwestern scored the next 10 points to cut it to 40-39 with 14:44 remaining. With the score 42-41 in favor of the 'Roos, Austin College used an 8-0 run capped by a basket by Holland to make it 50-41 with 11:16 left to play, and the lead would grow to double figures on another basket by Holland moments late at 55-44. Austin College took its biggest lead of the game at 66-52 on a layup by Jason Jones Jr. with 6:40 to play and never looked back, topping the Pirates by 12 points the day after falling to Southwestern by that same margin.
Cleamons finished with 14 points and seven rebounds to join Holland in double figures, and Joe came off the bench to score 13. Austin College turned the ball over 23 times but made nine more field goals than the Pirates to come away with the win.
Kyle Poerschke led Southwestern with 15 points and six rebounds, and Preston Hannah chipped in 12 points. Josh Jones and Calvin Williams each scored 10 points for the Pirates in the loss.