GEORGETOWN, Texas – It was a winner take-all game at the Robertson Center as the Pirates hosted Texas Lutheran in the final regular season contest. Both teams sat at 6-7 in the conference and were vying for the final spot in the SCAC Championship. TLU defeated SU 83-80 in overtime.
Southwestern opened the game strong, converting points on steals and led by 11 early. Texas Lutheran made a push but the Pirates held strong to take a ten point advantage into the break, 42-32. Kyle Howard paced the Pirates with 11 points and three steals.
As the second half got underway Southwestern pressed on, extending their lead to 15, 49-34, three minutes into the half.
SU held TLU at an arm's length until midway through the frame. Texas Lutheran went on a run to tie the game for the first time with six minutes to play, 63-63. The Bulldogs posted their first lead of the game with 4:15 remaining on a three from Jacob Kouremetis, one of his nine three-pointers of the game.
Down three, 72-69, Southwestern got a huge stop defensively with less than 20 ticks left on the clock. Jake Holmes gathered the rebound and quickly found Ryan Wheeler on the outlet who brought the ball the length of the court. He drove deep and kicked the ball back out to Luke Hicks who confidently drained the three to tie the game at 72 with just seven seconds remaining.
SU forced a turnover at half court on the ensuing possession but Hicks' three was just off the mark as time expired.
TLU scored the first points of overtime and Southwestern went just 3-6 from the free throw line allowing Texas Lutheran to steal the win.
Kyle Howard led Southwestern with 22 points while TLU's Nathan Josephs led all scorers with 30 points. Hicks ended with 18 , Brandon Alexander 13 and Jake Holmes 11. Holmes also led all rebounders with nine boards.
The loss ends Southwestern's season at 10-15 on the year and 6-8 in the SCAC.
