Austin College Men Win Third Straight

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College men's basketball team got out to a big lead and held off a late rally by Trinity University, topping the Tigers 77-72 for their third straight victory on Saturday evening. The 'Roos are now 6-7 overall and 3-3 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

The 'Roos led by as many as 16 points thanks in large part to scoring 30 points off of Trinity turnovers, but found themselves trailing by six with 11:23 left in the game. Austin College fought back to take a 59-57 lead with 6:27 to play before a three for Trinity gave the lead back to the Tigers. Austin College responded with a 15-2 run over the next four minutes to go on top 74-62, and the 'Roos held on after the Tigers cut the margin to 75-72 with 15 seconds remaining.

Austin College held a 45-to-40 edge on the glass and forced Trinity into 23 turnovers, and also owned a 34-to-20 advantage in points in the paint. Devin Roland and Michael Holland each scored 16 to pace Austin College, with Holland adding eight rebounds and five assists. Roland chipped in six rebounds, three steals, and three blocked shots, and Justice Mercadel notched his second double-double in the last three games with 13 points and 10 boards. The 'Roos also got eight points apiece from Kameron Hill and Roman Strickland, who also pulled down eight rebounds in the victory.

Trinity knocked down 11 three pointers in the game to help keep things close late, and Stephen Molina scored 15 to lead the Tigers. David Nickell added 14 points, and Ben Hanley scored 10 points and had eight rebounds.

The 'Roos head out on the road next weekend when they travel to Georgetown to take on Southwestern University on Friday, then head to Seguin to take on Texas Lutheran on Saturday.