'Roo Men's Hoops Falls to Colorado College in OT

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College men's basketball team jumped out to an early lead over Colorado College, and after the Tigers surged ahead the 'Roos forced overtime but came up short in a 79-74 defeat on Friday evening in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 6-12 overall and 1-8 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

Colorado College used a dominating effort on the glass to knock off the 'Roos, out-pacing Austin College 56-to-38 on the boards, including pulling down 27 offensive rebounds that resulted in 23 second chance points, compared to nine offensive boards and 10 second chance points for the 'Roos. The Tigers also outscored the 'Roos 24-to-13 in bench points, and while they knocked down just 62.2% of their field goal attempts while the 'Roos were 100% from the stripe, Colorado College was 23-of-37 from the line while Austin College was 10-of-10.

The 'Roos got out to a quick start, taking a 9-2 lead in the first four minutes of action, and the margin grew to double-digits at 16-5 with 13:44 left in the opening half. Austin College maintained a comfortable cushion for most of the first half, but the Tigers closed on a 15-4 run to go into the locker room leading the 'Roos 31-30. The Tigers pushed their lead to nine early in the second frame, but a pair of free throws from Jamien June eventually tied things up at 58 apiece with 41 seconds left in regulation, and that's how things would stand at the final horn to send the game into overtime.

Jackson Rennie buried a three to open the scoring in overtime, putting the 'Roos ahead 61-58, but Colorado College scored the next nine points to surge ahead 67-61 after a four-point play by Scott Ruegg with 2:31 to play, and Austin College was unable to mount a comeback in the closing moments of the extra period. June led all scorers with 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting, adding four assists, and Rennie added 16 while Aidan Schnurr knocked down 3-of-6 from deep to finish with 15 points. Ethan Pearce stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and three blocked shots. Devin Philip led Colorado College with 14 points and added 14 rebounds, Asher Nofziger added 13 points and 19 boards, including 10 on the offensive class, and Ruegg chipped in 12 for the Tigers.

Austin College is back in action on Saturday when they host the Universit of St. Thomas at 6:00 p.m.