Nick Rose scored a career-high 39 points, but Austin College escaped Reid Gymnasium with a 93-91 victory in double overtime in a game with more twists and turns than any roller coaster ride.
After the Kangaroos' Walter Phillips missed a pair of free throws with six seconds to play, Jake Tramutolo's floater in the paint went off the iron as time expired to give AC a crucial win that keeps it in the thick of the race in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference's Western Division.
Colorado College, 12-9 overall and 8-4 in the SCAC, owns a half-game lead over Trinity heading into next Friday's showdown in San Antonio. Austin, 10-10 overall and 6-6 in the conference, is two games behind with two weekends remaining.
The 'Roos appeared to be in control when Ransom Okpala made a pair of free throws with 1:32 remaining in the first overtime that gave AC an 84-77 lead, but Rose nine points, including a pair on clutch free throws with 0.2 seconds remaining, to extend the contest.
The Tigers took a three-point lead 55 seconds into the second overtime, but managed just one point the rest of the way. CC had a chance to tie the game or win it on a three-pointer inside the final 20 seconds, but committed a turnover with seven seconds to go.
Colorado College's Ian Rewoldt posted career highs with 19 points and 12 rebounds while recording the first double-double of his brief career.
Austin had five players score in double figures, led by Jordan Hancock with 20. Walter Phillips added 18, while Scott Straley registered a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The Tigers owned a 69-58 advantage after Rose scored with 7:15 remaining in the second half, only to see Austin respond with a 15-2 run that resulted in a two-point lead with 55 seconds remaining in regulation.
Colorado College appeared to be in control after taking a 33-20 lead when Rose scored with 8:49 remaining in the first half, but CC went nearly five minutes without a basket and the 'Roos took advantage by scoring 15 of the next 19 points to pull to within 37-35 with 2:12 to play.
