LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - University of Dallas senior forward Tanner Bruffey earned SCAC Player of the Week for his performance in Week 8. He averaged 22.5 points and six rebounds per game as the Crusaders split two games with visiting Colorado College over the weekend.
AROUND THE SCAC
Austin College fell to both Trinity and Southwestern over the weekend, dropping a 56-44 contest against the Tigers before falling late to the Pirates 59-53. Against Trinity, the 'Roos scored just two points in the first 10 minutes of the second half, and that proved to be the difference in the game. Jimmy King scored a team-high nine points in the game, and also led the 'Roos with 16 points, including 14 in the first half, against Southwestern. Against the Pirates, the 'Roos led for the entirety of the first 34 minutes, but a late surge by Southwestern gave them a win over the 'Roos. King hit 4-of-7 threes in the game and Kevin Graham came off the bench to chip in 12 points in the loss.
Centenary logged a victory over Southwestern University to split a pair of SCAC contests over the weekend. Freshman Drew Erskine played a key role for the Gents finishing second on the team in scoring with 15.5 points, including a career-high 16 points in the victory over the Pirates. Erskine followed with 15-point effort, tying for the team lead, in the setback to Trinity on Saturday. Junior Jonathan Blount tallied a team-leading 21 points in the decision over Southwestern and tied Erskine for the team’s best mark against Trinity. The Gents return to action over the weekend closing out a season-long, five-game homestand against Colorado College and the University of Dallas.
Colorado College maintained a share of first place by splitting a pair of games at the University of Dallas last weekend. Freshman forward James Lonergan poured in a season-high 20 points, but the Tigers let a 10-point lead slip away during the final 5:12 of regulation and dropped a 68-64 decision in overtime. After the Crusaders hit a three-pointer with five seconds remaining to force the extra session, CC was just 1-for-12 from the floor in overtime. Senior forward Ian Rewoldt grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds and scored nine points, while junior point guard Ryan Milne added nine points and dished out seven assists. On Saturday night, Colorado College overcame a four-point deficit during the final 24 seconds to record a 63-61 victory. UD took a 61-57 lead, but Milne answered with a pair of layups in a span of 15 seconds to tie the game. Milne was unable to complete the three-point play on the second one, but Lesnansky grabbed the offensive rebound and buried a pair of free throws with seven seconds to go to provide the winning margin. Lesnansky finished with a game-high 20 points and grabbed six rebounds. Milne added 14 points and dished out three assists, while Rewoldt snared a game-high seven rebounds and added seven points. The Crusaders appeared to be in complete control when leading 52-40 with 9:09 remaining in the contest, but Lesnansky and Milne scored eight points apiece during a 21-9 run that helped Colorado College tie the game with nine seconds remaining. With 20 rebounds over the weekend, Rewoldt climbed three spots on the program’s all-time list and now ranks No. 19 with 448. CC's six-game road stretch continues next week at Centenary and Austin on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
Dallas (9-5, 4-2 SCAC) went 1-1 on the week at home versus Colorado College. On Friday at the Maher Athletic Center, the Crusaders overcame a nine-point halftime deficit en route to a 68-64 overtime triumph over the Tigers. Sophomore guard Kym Malone made good on an 'and one' play to keep Dallas within striking distance late in the second half. Senior forward Tanner Bruffey sent the game into overtime when he deposited a 3-pointer with five seconds remaining to knot the score 61-61. Sophomore forward Mark Promberger hauled in three defensive rebounds in the extra frame to help the Crusaders to a four-point victory. Dallas boasted a 10-point lead with six minutes to go in Saturday's rematch, but the Tigers clawed back to a 63-61 decision. Bruffey had a game-high 30 points in defeat, as he knocked down 6-of-10 from distance. On tap this week for Dallas are a pair of conference road affairs -- Austin College (Friday, 8 p.m.); Centenary (Saturday, 8 p.m.).
Southwestern went 1-1 in SCAC conference this
week to move to 6-10 overall and 2-4 in the SCAC. Friday night the
Pirates traveled to Shreveport, LA to face Centenary College. Free
throws were the difference maker as the Gents attempted four times
as many free throws as SU and made five times more. Southwestern
led briefly in the second half but couldn't overcome the deficit
from the free throw line as they fell 65-55. SU rebounded with a
strong showing in Sherman, taking down Austin College 59-53 on
Saturday. The Pirates allowed the 'Roos just six second half field
goals and took the lead late and secured it from the free throw
line down the stretch. The Pirates head to San Antonio on Saturday
to face top-seeded Trinity at 6 p.m.
Trinity swept a pair of road games in SCAC play over the
weekend, defeating both Austin College and Centenary College to
move into a tie for first place in the league standings. The Tigers
have now won nine of their last 10 games – a streak that
actually started with a win over Centenary on November 30. Trinity
has beaten Austin and Centenary twice so far this season –
with all four wins coming on the road. Trinity will face
Texas-Dallas in its final non-conference game of the regular season
on Monday night, then will return home to host Southwestern on
Saturday evening. Trinity swept the regular season series from
Southwestern last year, though both games were decided by less than
10 points.
To view the entire SCAC Hoops Weekly for Week 8,
click here.
