GEORGETOWN, Texas - Southwestern closed out their final home stand of the season with a win over Colorado College 66-62 in exciting fashion on Sunday afternoon. The Pirates trailed by six points with less than four minutes remaining and closed out the game on a 12-2 run to seal the victory.
Colorado College shot out of the gates, scoring four points in the first minute and a half, before Southwestern joined the scoring. Southwestern held the Tigers scoreless over the next four minutes and to just eight points over nine minutes to mount an eight point lead, 20-12, with nine minutes left in the half.
After a couple of baskets by the Tigers Southwestern embarked on a 7-0 run to build their lead up to 12, 27-15 with 5:30 on the clock, but Colorado came back to cut it to seven, 35-28, heading into halftime.
Following the break it was a different Tiger team as they chipped away at the lead and eventually took control of it, 43-40, on a three pointer by Nick Rose with 12:30 left to play.
Caputo made one of two from the free throw line and then followed it with a three pointer on a kick out by Michael Cantu a few possessions later to snag the lead back for the Pirates, 44-43, with 9 minutes remaining.
Colorado went off from three point range, scoring three from deep to give the Tigers a six point lead, 60-54, with 3:36 on the clock.
After passing up on the three point shot all-day, preferring to drive the lane for layups instead, Cantu drained two, threes on consecutive possessions, after forcing two turnovers, to tie the game once again, 60-60 with just under two minutes to play.
On Colorado's possession Rose was fouled but missed the front end of a one-and-one, giving the ball back to Southwestern with a chance to regain the lead. Caputo made that happen as he shot faked and drove to the middle, hitting a pull-up jumper at the free throw line to put SU up 62-60 with 1:24 on the clock.
The Tigers opted to play defense instead of fouling early in the possession after SU turned the ball over and Colorado gave it right back. With 47 seconds left Southwestern worked the ball around the perimeter until Logan Hurley came open on the block. Hurley received the pass, spun and went up for the layup, getting fouled in the process.
Hurley stepped to the line confidently and made both to give Southwestern the all-important four point lead, 64-60, with 27 seconds remaining. SU fouled Rose on the defensive end and he made both free throws to pull Colorado within two, 64-62 with 13 seconds to play.
The Pirates inbounded the ball and fouled Hurley who once again stepped to the line for a one-and-one. This time, however, he missed the front end but Robbie Hanley snagged the offensive rebound and was intentionally fouled to give Southwestern the chance to slam the door shut. Hanley made one of two and Cantu was fouled on the inbounds play with seven seconds remaining. Cantu missed the first but drained the second giving the Pirates a four point lead once again to dash the Tigers' hopes of a win.
Caputo led the way with 15 points in his final home game while Cantu added in 14 and Hurley 13. Hanley pulled down seven boards to lead in rebounds while James Davenport played great off the bench with six points and six boards in the win. Colorado's Rose led all scorers with 29 points.
Southwestern improves to 6-18 on the year and 4-11 in the SCAC and are one game behind Millsaps and Hendrix in the race for the final spot in the Conference Tournament. They close out the regular season in San Antonio on Friday against conference rival, Trinity.