SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College men's basketball team got off to a strong start, but Southwestern used a run late in the first half to take control and the 'Roos were unable to recover in an 81-70 loss on Saturday in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 5-12 overall and 2-6 in SCAC play.

After Southwestern scored the first basket of the game, Austin College used a 12-1 run capped by a bucket from Rex King to make it 12-3 with 14:43 on the clock. Southwestern countered, making it a 14-8 game just over a minute later, but Jaylyn Cleamons scored and Jonathan Lawrence followed with a triple to put the 'Roos ahead 19-8 with 12:06 left before halftime. However, the Pirates scored eight unanswered to trim it to 19-16, and the gap narrowed to 22-21 with 8:17 on the clock.

Chanston Goodman drilled a three to make it 25-21, but Southwestern responded with a 10-1 run to surge ahead 31-26 with 4:06 to play in the opening half. Cleamons scored five points to keep things close at 33-31, but the Pirates would close the half with a 7-2 run to go into the break leading 40-33. Southwestern pushed the margin to double figures early in the second half at 47-37, and the Pirates extended their lead to 57-41 with 11:29 left in the game. Austin College would trail by as many as 18 points at 78-60 before closing the game with a 10-3 run to make it an 81-70 final.

Chase Antosca came off the bench to lead Austin College with 18 points, hitting 5-of-12 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line while adding six rebounds and three assists. Cleamons chipped in 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists, and Goodman added 10 points and four assists. Jason Jones grabbed 13 rebounds to go along with eight points in the loss. Chris Smith led Southwestern with 18 points and 10 rebounds.