The Pirates led the majority of the game and survived a late game rally by the 'Roos to win 50-48 on Saturday night in Georgetown.
Southwestern was flat at the start of the game, allowing Austin College to jump out to a 5-0 lead in the first three minutes. Back-to-back threes by Chris Molina tied the game at nine with 14 minutes to play in the half.
The run continued as the Pirates got hot offensively and forced the 'Roos into turnovers on the defensive end, increasing their lead to 11, 20-9, with 10:30 to play in the first.
Austin College fought back to pull within one point, 29-28, by the break. Molina led the Pirates with 12 points on 4-6 from long range. SU shot 45.5% from three point range and 33.3% from the field while holding AC to just 31% from the field and 18.2% from three point range.
Southwestern held a slight advantage through the early part of the second half until Austin Freet's layup tied the game 35-35 with 14:13 to go. At the 10 minute mark AC led for the first time in the frame, 39-37, but the lead was short lived as Danny Kellum drained a three with 8:23 remaining.
SU led by as many as eight, 47-39 with just under five to play, but the 'Roos battled back to make a game of it. With 3:45 to go the Pirate lead was three and with 38 seconds remaining Austin College pulled within one, 49-48, on another Freet layup.
Austin College fouled and Whitlock made one of two from the free throw line, opening the door for AC to steal the win. The 'Roos got two good looks from deep before Blake Scott secured the defensive rebound to seal the win for SU.
Molina led with 12 points and Chris Lee added in 10 as Southwestern shot 30.6% from the floor and 41.2% from three point range. AC was led by Brian Baehl's 14 points as the 'Roos were held to 26.8% from the floor and 12% from long range.
Scott pulled down seven boards for SU and Baehl eight for AC as the 'Roos out-rebounded Southwestern 43-38.
Southwestern improves to 11-7 on the year and 6-3 in the SCAC after the win while AC falls to 7-12 and 3-6. The Pirates sit is second place, one game behind Centenary, and are three games from securing a spot in the SCAC Conference Championship. SU remains at home to face Trinity on Friday night at 8 p.m.
