COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A big night from Brandon Alexander wasn't enough for the Southwestern University Pirates men's basketball team, who lost 88-78 to the Colorado College Tigers on Friday night.
Alexander scored a game-high 27 points and Ryan Wheeler pitched in 17 points and six rebounds but the Pirates struggled early, falling behind 28-9 to start the game, digging too deep a hole to climb out of on the road.
The Pirates shot just 9-for-27 in the first half, hitting a respectable 6-for-16 (37.5 percent) from deep but only 3-for-11 inside.
Colorado College countered with an efficient 17-for-27 performance (63 percent) in the first half, assisting on 12 of their 17 made baskets to take a 42-31 lead into the break. Alexander paced the Pirates with 16 points in the half, hitting 4-for-9 from behind the 3-point line.
Alexander and Wheeler each scored in double figures in the second half, combining for 21 points to pull within two at 48-46 on an Alexander 3-pointer with 15:42 remaining in the second half.
The Tigers countered with a monster second-half performance from Cooxooeii Black, who scored 19 points on 6-for-8 shootings, getting to the free-throw line for eight attempts, hitting seven. Black finished the game with 23 points, five rebounds, and three assists to lead three Colorado College players in double figures. Eric Jonas had 10 points on four shots while reserve Devin Martinez had 14 points and eight rebounds and Isaac Zachem finished with 11 points and five assists.
Colorado College moved the ball freely, assisting on 20 of its 29 baskets, shooting 53.7 percent from the field and 43.8 percent from the 3-point line.
With the loss, the Pirates drop to 10-9 on the season and 7-3 in conference play. Southwestern will continue its road trip with a game against JWU (Denver) tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.