With the regular season a week away, the Austin College men's basketball team got a big time warm up as the 'Roos traveled to Huntsville to take on NCAA Division I opponent Sam Houston State on Friday. The 'Roos fell 100-52 in the game.

For the 'Roos, it was a chance to get a tune up game against a high level opponent while also revisiting the college's roots. Though Austin College has been located in Sherman since 1876, it was founded and received its original charter in Huntsville in 1849. Austin Hall is perhaps the most recognizable landmark on the campus of Sam Houston State, and was home to the original Austin College. Sam Houston himself sat on the very first board of trustees for the college.

In today's exhibition game for the 'Roos, Sam Houston got out to a big lead thanks in large part to the team's big size advantage. The Bearkats, who compete in the Southland Conference, do not have a player under 6-foot-1 and have 10 players who stand 6-foot-4 or better. The size advantage was evident with a 58-6 advantage in points in the paint for Sam Houston, along with a 54-32 edge in rebounds.

Kevin Graham had an outstanding game for the 'Roos, who knocked down 12 three pointers as a team. Graham hit 3-of-5 from deep on his way to 15 points, adding three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Two more players hit double figures for the 'Roos, with Andres Rivera knocking down 4-of-6 threes on his way to 12 points and Alan Sullivan scoring 10 to go along with a team high five rebounds and three steals.

Austin College opens its regular season next Friday at 8:00 p.m. against Sul Ross State as part of the Bob Mason Classic.