'Roo Men's Hoops Suffers First Loss

SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College men's basketball team struggled from the field and found themselves on the wrong side of a 51-40 rebounding margin, falling 84-75 to visiting Bacone College on Tuesday night. The 'Roos are now 2-1 overall this season after the defeat.

The 'Roos came out strong, getting three pointers from Austin Freet and Andres Rivera along with a three point play from Jeremy Swisher to take a 9-6 lead four minutes in. However, Bacone's Irving Levine got hot from the perimeter, hitting four three pointers during a 26-8 run as the Warriors went on top 32-14 with 7:44 left before the break.

A Nick Anderson three pointer made it 35-16 with 7:18 left, and that remained the score until Brian Baehl knocked down a pair of free throws to cut it to 35-18 with 3:35 on the clock. Baehl's free throws sparked an 11-0 run for Austin College to end the half, as Baehl added a layup and Roman Manikowski and Cody Meyers each hit a three pointer, and a free throw by Freet made it a 35-27 game at the break.

Four free throws for Swisher early in the second half helped cut the margin to 37-33 with 17:17 to play, but Matt Qualls scored eight points during an 11-2 run to put the Warriors on top 48-35 with 13:29 left. After a layup by Freet cut it to a 52-43 game, the Warriors extended the lead to 68-51 with 5:51 remaining.

Austin College would keep chipping away but Bacone had an answer each time, leading by as much as 18 at 77-59 with just over two minutes remaining. Rivera hit two three pointers, including a four point play, and Josh Dickerman knocked down four free throws down the stretch but the 'Roos were unable to pull off a late rally. Eghosa Igbinosa's tip-in at the buzzer made it an 84-75 final.

Swisher finished with 16 points to lead Austin College, while Rivera came off the bench to knock down 4-of-5 three pointers and finished with 13 points. Baehl added eight points and four assists, and Freet finished with eight points and nine rebounds for Austin College.

Qualls led all scorers and rebounders with 28 points and 14 boards for Bacone, and Levine finished the game hitting 4-of-7 from deep and scored 18 points to go along with six boards and four assists. Geo Brewer added 13 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.

Austin College heads to Memphis this weekend, where they'll be taking on Illinois Wesleyan on Saturday before facing Rhodes College on Sunday.

Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.