GEORGETOWN, Texas - The Austin College men's basketball team built a double digit halftime lead and managed to hold off a comeback bid in a road game at Southwestern University on Saturday, topping the Pirates 73-71 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

The 'Roos didn't take long to go on top by double figures, taking a 19-9 lead just over six minutes into the game and pushing the margin to 36-16 on a bucket by Joshua Joe at the 5:06 mark. Austin College took its biggest lead of the game shortly after, with Joe knocking down two free throws to make it 38-17. The 'Roos headed into halftime leading 40-25, and Joe hit a triple to open up the second half and make it a 43-25 game. Southwestern responded with a 6-2 run to trim it to 45-31, and after a pair of Nate Williams free throws made it 47-31, the Pirates scored the next nine to make it a 47-40 game with 13:25 left to play.

Kidus Getenet drilled a three to push it back to a double digit margin at 57-46 with 10:31 on the clock, but once again Southwestern answered, quickly cutting it to a 57-51 game. Southwestern eventually whittled the lead down to 64-63 with 4:16 remaining before Joe hit a trey to give the 'Roos some breathing room at 67-63 on the next possession. Two more free throws by Joe pushed it to 69-63, and after Southwestern cut it to 71-69 with just over a minute left, the 'Roos got a basket from Ethan Pearce with 15 seconds left to make it 73-69 and seal the win. Getenet led the 'Roos with 22 points and Joe added 16, while Pearce finished with 15 points and eight rebounds. Luke Hatcher paced the Pirates with 17 points.