Posted: Feb 29, 2020
KERRVILLE, Texas -- Behind a 38-point scoring performance from junior guard Sebastian Andrade, Texas Lutheran will return to the championship game for the fifth time in six years after the Bulldogs upset second-seed Austin College, 79-72, in Saturday's second men's conference tournament semifinal game. Official Tournament Website | Post-game interview w/Texas Lutheran
Andrade's outburst is tied for the second-most points ever scored in a SCAC men's tournament game. Andrew Maddock of Colorado College had 46 in a 2016 tournament game against Austin College.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Texas Lutheran led by as much as 13 in the first half before Austin College closed the final 7:24 on a 21-8 run to knot the score at 35 at the half.
- In the opening half, Austin College shot 50.0 percent (15-30) from the field to TLU's 36.4 percent (12-33) but two more three-pointers and four more free throws from the Bulldogs accounted for the tie game.
- After finishing the regular season eighth in the conference in free throw shooting, TLU was close to automatic from the line, hitting 22 of 26 for 84.6 percent.
- The game was tied eight times and the lead exchanged hands six more, with most of the back-and-forth occuring in the second half.
- A layup by the 'Roos Devin Roland cut the TLU lead to one at 64-63 with 3:16 remaining but the Bulldogs went on a 8-2 run over the next two minutes of clock time and Austin College would not get closer than five the rest of the way.
TEXAS LUTHERAN STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Sebastian Andrade: 38 points, 11 rebounds, four assists
- Jamir Mason: 15 points, seven rebounds
- Caleb Lister: 12 points, 12 rebounds, two assists
- Jorden Kite: 5 points, seven rebounds, three steals
AUSTIN COLLEGE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Michael Holland: 17 points, four rebounds, three assists
- Justice Mercadel: 15 points, four rebounds
- Devin Roland: 13 points, three rebounds, three assists
- Roman Strickland: 12 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks
NOTABLE
- Texas Lutheran advances to its fifth championship game in the last six years. Only Centre (eight) and Trinity (seven) have been to more SCAC men's title games.
- Texas Lutheran is 4-0 in those previous championship appearances, including last year's 99-95 double overtime win against Dallas.
- Since the SCAC went to a six-team bracket in 2013, only one team has won three games in three days to take the conference crown and that was Texas Lutheran in 2017. This year's edition of the Bulldogs will attempt to become the second.
- Andrade hit on 19 of 21 free throws for the game. His 19 made free throws are tied with Ryan Milne of Colorado College (in a 2/28/14 game against Dallas) as the most in a single game in men's tournament history.
- Greg Ross of Centre (2/25/11 vs. Hendrix) and Jonathan Blount of Centenary (3/1/14 vs. Schreiner) are the other players who have scored 38 points in a SCAC tournament game.
- The number two seed earned by Austin College was its highest since being the West Division top seed at the 2010 championships.
- The 'Roos loss as the No. 2 seed in the semifinal round is the first time the No. 2 has not advanced to the title game since Colorado College in 2017.
- Austin College ends its season with a 14-12 record.
UP NEXT
Texas Lutheran (16-11) advances to play top-seeded Centenary in tomorrow's men's championshp game. Tip for the title game is scheduled for Noon CT and will be played at the Athletic and Events Center on the campus of Schreiner University. The last time the two played in the SCAC tournament was in the semifinals of the 2018 event when Centenary eliminated TLU - which is the only time the Bulldogs haven't made the title game in the last six years.
Texas Lutheran (16-11) advances to play top-seeded Centenary in tomorrow's men's championshp game. Tip for the title game is scheduled for Noon CT and will be played at the Athletic and Events Center on the campus of Schreiner University. The last time the two played in the SCAC tournament was in the semifinals of the 2018 event when Centenary eliminated TLU - which is the only time the Bulldogs haven't made the title game in the last six years.
