Big Second Half Propels 'Roos Past Tigers

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College men's basketball team held a slim lead at halftime, but a second half offensive explosion sent the 'Roos to a 79-63 victory against Colorado College on Sunday afternoon in Hughey Gym.

Austin College took a 31-27 lead into halftime before erupting for 48 second half points, as the 'Roos hit 9-of-11 three pointers after the break and shot 66.7% from the field as a team in the final 20 minutes. The 'Roos finished the game hitting 53.1% as a team and made 10-of-20 from long distance. Austin College also outscored Colorado College 17-7 from the free throw line, and four different players each reached double digits in the scoring column.

With Austin College leading 39-36 in the second half, Ocie Berry knocked down a triple to get a scoring run going for the 'Roos as Jordan Hudgins, Kidus Getenet, and Ethan Pearce each drilled a trey to help push the margin to 53-38 with 13:08 left to play. The Tigers battled back to get the deficit down to 56-54 with 7:07 remaining, but Austin College got a free throw from Jackson Rennie and a tough bucket by Hudgins to make it 59-54. Pearce knocked down a trey and Rennie made two from long distance to push it back to double digits at 70-57 with 2:52 on the clock and the 'Roos would coast from there.

Hudgins finished 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, adding five assists and four rebounds to lead the 'Roos. Peace hit 3-of-4 threes on his way to 15 points, five rebounds, and three blocks, and Rennie came off the bench to chip in 13. Joshua Joe had 10 points, six boards, and four assists for Austin College. Dinari Boykin led Colorado College with 16 points, nine boards, and four steals.