IRVING, Texas - The Austin College men's basketball team led from start to finish in an 85-78 road victory over the University of Dallas on Sunday afternoon, giving the team it's first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference win of the year. The 'Roos are now 3-13 overall and 1-4 in SCAC play.
Austin College came out hot in the early going, scoring the first six points of the game and taking a 14-4 lead after a Michael Holland three pointer and a layup by Josh Garrett. Four quick points from Kam Hogan and a jumper by Justice Mercadel pushed it to a 22-9 lead with 11:26 left in the first half, and a trey from Kameron Hill made it 29-13. Josh Quinn's three pointer made it 40-20 with 5:11 remaining before the break, but Dallas would score nine in a row to trim it to an 11-point game over the next few minutes. Holland's two free throws would send Austin College into the locker room leading 42-29.
The 'Roos scored the first seven points of the second half, with a three from Quinn pushing it to a 49-29 margin, and after Dallas fought back to get the deficit back in single digits, Mercadel and Holland each scored to make the score 55-43 with under 14 minutes left in the game. However, the Crusaders would use a 15-4 run to cut it to 59-58 game on a three from Darrius Colvin with 9:04 showing on the clock.
Holland and Josh Hardwick would each score to keep Austin College ahead, and Hill added a pair of free throws and a driving basket to make it 67-62 with 6:35 left. Dallas would pull to within four at 76-72 but Quinn buried a dagger three pointer from the corner with just 58 seconds left to go, making it a seven-point game, and the 'Roos would knock down free throws in the closing moments to secure the win.
Quinn hit 5-of-10 three pointers on his way to a career-best 21 points, adding four assists, three steals, three rebounds, and two blocked shots. Mercadel had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Holland finished with 15 points and nine boards. Hogan chipped in 10 points and six assists in the victory.
Colvin led all scorers with 29 points, and Spencer Levi added 17 points, 14 rebounds, and three blocked shots for the Crusaders.
