Men's Hoops Rolls Past Southwestern

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College men's basketball team got a combined 30 points off the bench from Nate Williams and Jackson Rennie, and the 'Roos used a big second half run to earn a 71-53 win over Southwestern on Friday night in Hughey Gym. The 'Roos are now 3-4 overall and 1-0 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

Williams scored 11 of his team-best 18 points in the second half to lead the 'Roos, hitting 6-of-9 shots in the game, including 2-of-4 from deep. He also knocked down all four of his free throw attempts and grabbed eight rebounds while handing out three assists in the victory. Rennie hit three big second half threes to help the 'Roos get separation from the Pirates, finishing the game with 12 points. Austin College led 46-39 with 12 minutes to play, but Joshua Joe knocked down a trey and Rennie made three in a row to push the margin to 58-39 with 9:48 left and the 'Roos would coast from there.

Austin College got out to an ice cold start offensively, going nearly eight minutes to open the game before the team's first bucket, a three from Rennie at the 12:17 mark of the first half. It was a 17-9 game with Southwestern on top at the 7:54 mark of the first half, but Jason Jones Jr. scored 10 of Austin College's next 17 points as the 'Roos went on a 17-4 run to surge ahead 26-21. The 'Roos would continue that momentum into the half, taking a 35-27 lead at the break, and the big second half run would put the Pirates away for good.

Jones made 6-of-9 shots on his way to 14 points, eight rebounds, five steals, and a pair of blocks, and Joe was 5-of-9 from the field and 2-of-4 from deep to add 14 points. Tristan Dick handed out a team-best eight assists in the win for Austin College. Southwestern made just 34.5% from the field, with no players reaching double figures in the scoring column. Chris Smith had eight points and nine boards to pace the Pirates.