GEORGETOWN, Texas – Southwestern’s men’s
basketball team was unable to shake a cold shooting spell as they
fell to Trinity University 49-58 in their final home game of the
season, the second lowest point total the Pirates have had all
year. With the loss Southwestern falls to 16-9 on the year and 9-7
overall. Despite losing the Pirates remain in second place in the
West.
The first half was a barnburner with no team gaining control.
Trinity was able to take a three point lead into halftime, 29-26,
when Bryant Wilson made a three with 30 seconds to play in the
half.
Defense became crucial for the Pirates as the second half got
underway. Through the first ten minutes of the period SU was held
to just three points but still managed to trail by only seven,
29-36. A pair of free throws by junior Jonathan Brown broke the
chilly scoring spell and senior A.C. Cox followed with a jumper to
bring SU within three, 33-36 with nine to play.
The Tigers pushed their lead to eight points, 47-39, with just over
three minutes remaining in the game. Southwestern pulled within six
points but TU’s Wilson made a clutch three-pointer as the
shot clock wound down, putting Trinity up 11, 52-41, with just over
a minute to go.
Junior Nick Caputo drained a three-pointer with 51 seconds left
pulling Southwestern within six, 46-53. After a pair of free throws
by Trinity’s Caldarera, SU’s senior Travis Barber hit a
three of his own to bring Southwestern to within five, 54-49 with
37 ticks left on the clock. That is as close as the Pirates could
get, however, as the Tigers made their last four free throws and
held SU scoreless to close out the game.
The Pirates held Trinity to 30.4% from the floor, 36.8% from three
point range and 73.9% from the free throw line, but only shot 30.4%
from the field, 19.2% from long range and 76.9% from the charity
stripe themselves.
Barber and Brown led the way for SU with 15 points each and Brown
had a team high eight rebounds. Caldarera led Trinity and all
scorers with 21 points.
The final home game marks the last time four Pirates will play
inside the Robertson Center, Cox, Barber, Zach Bergstrom and Collyn
Kelley. This is not the final game for these Pirates, however, as
Southwestern stays in second place in the conference despite the
loss and will hit the road next week for the SCAC tournament in
Jackson, Miss. They will likely face DePauw in the first round of
the tournament on Friday, February 26th.