GEORGETOWN, Texas – Kyle Howard provided the magic and simple math provided the rest for the Southwestern University Pirates in an 87-84 victory over the Austin College Kangaroos.

Howard scored a team-high 21 points with five assists and four steals to lead Southwestern, scoring 19 in the second half, including eight of the Pirates' final 11 points in a game that went down to the wire.

The Pirates' point guard was all deception, faking a dribble handoff to a trailing Brandon Alexander in one moment only to find a teammate in the corner in the next. With the ball on a string and both feet on balance underneath him, Howard was all spins, shoulder fakes, and crossovers into the paint.

Austin College countered with Michael Holland, who relied on a steady handle and strong frame creating angles to the rim for 30 points on 13-for-22 shooting, pulling down seven rebounds.

But the Pirates outscored the 'Roos 24-12 from the 3-point line, taking nearly twice as many attempts, and earning a 27-36 advantage in made free throws; producing the most efficient shots in basketball. In a close game, the additional point on baskets scored made the difference. 

Justice Mercadel scored 21 points for the 'Roos on 11 shots and Roman Strickland added 13 points off the bench.

Kyle Poerschke and Joel Martinez joined Howard in double-figure scoring for the Pirates with Poerschke coring 11 points with six rebounds, two steals, and two assists and Martinez adding 13 points on nine shots of the bench.

The Pirates shot just 44.1 percent from the field to the Austin College's 55.6 percent but shot 8-for-23 from the 3-point line and 27-for-36 from the free-throw line.

With the win, the Pirates improve to 8-7 on the season and 4-4 in conference play. Southwestern will face Dallas tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.