Brian Baehl scored a career high 23 points and the Austin College men's basketball team knocked down 10 three pointers to hold off the University of Dallas for a 76-71 victory on Saturday night in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 8-14 overall and 4-9 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play with the win.
Baehl scored 13 of his game-high 23 in the second half, including four straight to give the 'Roos a 70-68 lead with under two minutes to play after the Crusaders had surged ahead to a 68-63 cushion. Jeremy Swisher and Jordan Hancock each knocked down a pair of late free throws and John Hibbeler scored on a breakaway layup to seal the victory.
Austin College used some early three pointers from Ransom Okpala and Hancock to grab a 12-10 lead with 16:01 left in the opening half, and Baehl and Alan Sullivan each knocked down a trey to help the 'Roos maintain a slim 21-20 margin midway through the half. After Aaron Wyatt scored for Dallas to tie things at 24, Baehl drilled another three as the 'Roos scored the next five to take a 29-24 lead, and the 'Roos were able to carry a 36-35 lead into halftime.
The 'Roos extended the lead early in the second half when Okpala hit another three and Baehl knocked down a jumper to make it 43-37, and after the Crusaders cut it to a one point game Baehl scored four of the next six to make it 49-44 in favor of the 'Roos with 12;47 to play. A three by Lorenzo Gonzalez gave UD its first second half lead at 52-51 with just over 10 minutes left, but Baehl and Swisher hit back to back threes to make it 59-54 with 8:32 remaining.
Dallas regained the lead before Swisher hit another trey to make it 62-60 but the Crusaders used an 8-1 run to make it 68-63, but that's when Okpala would hit another three and Baehl would score his two crucial buckets to put Austin College ahead for good at 70-68 with 1:48 remaining.
Baehl finished the game hitting 9-of-16 overall and 3-of-6 from long range and added six rebounds and four assists, and Swisher finished with 15 points while hitting 4-of-5 shots and both of his trey attempts. Okpala finished with 13 points and Hancock scored 10. Alan Sullivan chipped in nine points, five boards, and three assists.
Nate Wilson led the Crusaders with 16 points and seven boards and Tom Kaiser came off the bench to score 12 with eight rebounds, while Kym Malone added 10 for Dallas.
Austin College takes on Centenary next Friday at 6:00 p.m. for Senior Night before closing out the regular season on Sunday against UC Santa Cruz at 5:00 p.m.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
About Austin College
Austin College is a leading national independent residential liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope's influential book Colleges that Change Lives.