ABILENE, Texas – In a game of streaks the Pirates were able to fend off the Cowboy’s last run to defeat Hardin Simmons University 75-72. Southwestern improves to 3-1 for the season while HSU falls to 0-2.

Hardin-Simmons came out and took a 26-15 lead at the 9:25 mark of the first half, but the veteran Pirates would not go away and they came right back with a 14-3 run to tie the game at 29 all on a pair of free throws by Jonathan Brown. The teams went back and forth the rest of the first half and HSU led 39-38 at halftime.

An early 17-0 run in the second half that gave the Pirates momentum and the biggest lead of the game at 55-42 with 13 minutes remaining. The run was fueled by a pair of three-pointers by junior Nick Caputo and SU’s suffocating defense forced three turnovers in the stretch.

HSU battled back with a quick 8-0 run that dwindled the deficit to 57-54 with 8:55 to play.

Southwestern’s final run would be the decider as the Pirates rattled off 11 unanswered points to go up 70-59 with 1:40 remaining. Hardin Simmons’ last stand fell short as SU hung on for the win.

HSU did not have an answer for Brown on the inside all night as he led the Pirates with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Caputo’s sharp shooting from long range led to 16 points off the bench for SU while senior Zach Bergstrom was one rebound shy of a double-double, recording 13 points and nine rebounds.

Southwestern shot 43.3 percent and they out-rebounded the Cowboys 49-34. HSU shot 35.4% from the floor and had three players in double digits.

The Pirates head into the holidays on hiatus before returning to action as they open up SCAC conference action on December 3rd at rival Trinity at 8:00 pm in San Antonio, TX.