SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College men's basketball team kept its 2020 hot streak going on Saturday against Johnson & Wales, topping the Wildcats 91-81 to improve to 11-8 overall and 8-4 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play. The 'Roos have now won five in a row and eight of their last nine overall since early January.
Michael Holland and Roman Strickland each scored 18 to pace Austin College and the 'Roos built a 49-34 halftime lead before holding off JWU late. The 'Roos shot 57.9% from the field as a team, but Johnson & Wales grabbed 24 offensive rebounds to help them chip away at the deficit down the stretch. The Wildcats got as close as 86-81 with a minute left, but a three from Strickland with 39 seconds left iced the game for Austin College. Strickland scored five big points in the final 71 seconds of action, with Kam Hogan finding him for a dunk in addition to his clutch triple.
The 'Roos trailed just once in the game at 7-6 less than three minutes in, but a pair of Michael Holland free throws capped a 12-2 run that put Austin College ahead 18-9 three minutes later. Four points from Strickland pushed the margin to double figures not long after, and the lead would balloon to 39-21 on a trey from Devin Roland with 5:25 left before the half.
Austin College controlled the paint in the game, outscoring the Wildcats 48-30 in the lane, and also owned a 34-15 advantage in points off the bench. Johnson & Wales would take advantage of 22 Austin College turnovers, however, converting those giveaways into 24 points. However, Austin College got baskets when it mattered, hitting 15-of-25 shot attempts in the second half to earn the victory.
Holland added nine rebounds and four assists to his 18 point effort, and Strickland was 6-of-10 from the field in the win. Justice Mercadel scored 14 for Austin College, while Roland chipped in 12. JWU's Andray Thomas led all scorers with 29 points and added nine rebounds, and Charles Young scored 18. Kaleb Atherley had 13 point and 11 rebounds for the Wildcats.
Austin College is back in action next weekend as the 'Roos travel to Kerrville to take on Schreiner on Friday before heading to San Antonio on Saturday to square off against Trinity.