Sullivan's Career Night Not Enough as 'Roos Fall to TLU

Alan Sullivan poured in a career-best 36 points, but it wasn't quite enough as the Austin College men's basketball team fell 96-93 at SCAC-leading Texas Lutheran on Saturday. The 'Roos are now 10-3 overall and 0-3 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play, with those three conferences defeats coming by a total of six points.

Sullivan hit 12-of-20 shots overall and 5-of-10 from long distance and added six rebounds and four blocked shots in the loss. Texas Lutheran used a sizzling performance from three point range, hitting 12-of-20 triples as a team to hand the 'Roos the loss. The Bulldogs got 38 points from Jordan Kouremetis, who hit 8-of-9 three pointers.

Austin College trailed by as much as 11 in the first half, and after TLU went on top 33-22 with 6:47 left before the break, Sullivan scored seven quick points to fuel a 10-0 run. The teams traded baskets the rest of the half, and after Jeremy Swisher scored to bring the 'Roos to within one at 42-41, TLU got two free throws before the break to lead 44-41.

In the second half the Bulldogs continued their hot shooting from deep and pushed the lead to 16 at 75-59 with 11:27 left, but Austin College chipped away at the margin behind the strong play from Sullivan, Andres Rivera, and Brian Baehl. Two free throws from Sullivan made it 90-84 with just under a minute left, but TLU pushed it to a 10 point margin at 95-85 with just 23 seconds to play. The 'Roos weren't quite done yet, though, as Rivera and Sullivan each buried a three in the closing moments and Rivera scored with three seconds left to make it a 96-93 game but the comeback bid would end there.

Rivera hit 5-of-10 threes to finish with 19 points and Swisher added 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Baehl finished with 11 points and Cedric Hudson chipped in 10.