'Roo Men's Hoops Holds Off Dallas

IRVING, Texas - The Austin College men's basketball team came back from a big early deficit and held off the University of Dallas for the team's first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference win on Sunday, topping the Crusaders 87-80. The 'Roos are now 3-5 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

Roman Strickland scored 24 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while Tristan Dick and Jackson Rennie each scored 15 in the victory. Jaylyn Cleamons came off the bench to chip in 13 for Austin College, as the 'Roos found themselves down 20-6 in the early going but stormed back to go on top 35-32 thanks to a 29-12 run. The two teams would go back and forth for the rest of the opening half before Dallas scored just before the break to head into the locker room leading 43-41.

The Crusaders pushed the margin to 56-49 with just over 14 minutes remaining, but Rennie scored five points during a 7-0 run to even things up and after Dallas regained the lead, Cleamons buried consecutive triples to give Austin College a 62-58 advantage with 10:18 on the clock. The 'Roos led by as many as 10 points after Dick scored to make it 79-69, and after the Crusaders pulled to within three at 83-80 with 90 seconds left, the 'Roos managed to hold off the comeback bid and earn the win.

The 'Roos shot 45.9% from the field and 38.1% from long distance, with Strickland hitting 3-of-7 from deep while Rennie went 2-of-5 and Cleamons nailed both of his attempts. Chanston Goodman dished out a team-best four assists in the victory for Austin College.