GEORGETOWN, TEXAS - The Southwestern men's basketball team knew they had their work cut out for them when they entered the Jerabeck Athletics Center Saturday afternoon. The St. Thomas Celts are currently ranked 15th in the country and sit atop the SCAC standings. 

The Celts jumped out to a 23-6 lead at the ten-minute mark in the first half, playing at a blistering pace while the Pirates were unable to get anything going on offense. The Celts could do no wrong as they shot 50 percent from three, 54 percent from the field, and 71 percent from the free throw line. Luke Hatcher was the Pirates leading scorer in the first half, putting up eight points, while Zac Black followed behind him with four. By the end of the first half, the Celts led the Pirates by an insurmountable 43-18 lead. 

The Pirates were able to manufacture more points in the second half, scoring twenty-six and getting more players involved in the scoring. The scoring margin was far closer in the second half, with the Celts out-scoring the Pirates by seven points. Sam Lacy led the second half, scoring for the Pirates with five points, and Brock Luechtefeld and Chris Smith Jr. scored four and three points, respectively. 

All in all the 15th-ranked Celts were too much to handle for the Pirates, the final score ending at 76-44 in favor of St. Thomas. The Celts maintain a perfect record in the conference, while the Pirates drop to 3-9 in conference play. 

The Pirates will have over a week to rest and prepare for their road trip to Seguin, Texas, where they will take on the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs on Tuesday, February 7th, at 7:30 PM.