GEORGETOWN, Texas — The Southwestern Pirates men's basketball team experienced the highs and lows of a young, inexperienced roster in an 84-79 overtime loss to Texas Lutheran University.
For the first 20 minutes, Southwestern could do no wrong, lighting up the scoreboard with a balanced attack, taking care of the basketball, and cleaning up the glass to build up a 17-point lead with 2:17 remaining in the first half.
The Southwestern defense swarmed each Texas Lutheran action, jumping passing lanes, digging on drivers, rotating shooters, and altering shots at the rim. The Pirates had four first-half steals, forcing seven turnovers and limiting Texas Lutheran to just 8-for-25 shooting (32 percent), including 2-for-12 from the 3-point line.
On offense, three Pirates finished the half with nine points each, scoring on identical 4-for-7 shooting, but doing it in different ways. Kyle Poerschke showcased his ability to create and hit shots against defenders, Preston Hannah hit jumpers, scored on a cut, and jumped passing lanes to get out in transition, and Chris Smith, Jr. scored on energy and a soft touch on short jumpers.
Southwestern shot 16-for-30 (53.3 percent) in the first half, taking a 38-23 lead into the break.
Texas Lutheran simplified its offensive approach in the second half and upped its physicality and defensive intensity. The Bulldogs moved a pair of athletic defenders in DJ Ardoin and Trystin Silas into the lineup and unleashed Sebastian Andrade in an endless barrage of isolations.
The Bulldogs put the ball in Andrade's hands at the top of the key while putting the rest of their offense along the baseline. The senior guard worked at his own pace against various defenders, hitting short pull-up jumpers in the lane and getting defenders off their feet to get to the free-throw line.
Andrade got support from Caleb Lister, who scored 11 second-half points with eight rebounds, and Xavier Phillips added 12 and four rebounds in the half.
Texas Lutheran closed the gap, hitting 15-for-31 (46.9 percent) from the field, including 3-for-8 from the 3-point line, and getting to the free-throw line 17 times, hitting 14. Southwestern had opportunities to keep Texas Lutheran at bay but struggled with nine turnovers and cold shooting, hitting 10-for-27 from the field after the break.
Southwestern turned the ball over twice in the last two minutes and missed a free throw that would have extended the lead to three, allowing Jamir Mason to tie the game at 70 on a layup with four seconds remaining.
In overtime, Andrade scored six quick points before fouling out, and Phillips added four while Southwestern shot just 2-for-6, committing two turnovers and missing four free throws.
Poerschke led three Pirates in double figures with 22 points and six rebounds, shooting 10-for-16 from the field. Smith finished with 15 points and six rebounds, and Hannah and 11 points with three steals and two assists.
Andrade led all scorers with 27 points on efficient 10-for-16 shooting. Phillips had 18 on eight shots off the bench. Lister had a 15-point, 13-rebound double-double, and Mason scored 13 points, hitting 9-for-11 from the free-throw line.
With the win, Texas Lutheran improves to 2-3, and Southwestern drops to 3-2. Both teams will play each other again tomorrow at 4:00 p.m.
