1st Half sinks Crusaders at Austin College on Friday
SHERMAN, Texas – The University of Dallas men's basketball team fell 77-66 at Austin College on Friday night. The 'Roos (6-9, 2-2 SCAC) pulled away in the first half to lead Dallas (5-8, 0-4 SCAC) 50-32 at intermission. The Crusaders did outscore their opponent by seven in the second frame, but never got within more than the final result.
STAT NOTABLES
(Individual Notes)
- Michael Sarrat (Colleyville, Texas) finished with a game-high 19 points. 15 of those came in the opening half and this is the second time the senior has matched 19 total this season.
- The output was two shy from a season-high in the first contest this campaign and helped propel the senior beyond the 900-career point marker with 909.
- Darrius Colvin (Waco, Texas) contributed 17 points with 12 in the final 20 minutes. The team's leading rebounder also had a team-high of five.
- Emmanuel Calton (Keller, Texas) chipped in seven points off the bench. He also added four rebounds, four assists (2nd game in a row to repeat season-best), and two steals. The four dimes match a career-best, which Calton did twice in 2015-16.
- Austin College had four players reach double-digits in scoring (all starters). Brian Baehl and Austin Wells tied with 13 points apiece. Jeremy Swisher and JP Feilder each added 11.
- Austin Freet garnered a game-high nine boards. Baehl had four of those and just as many assists.
(Team Notes)
- Both team shot nearly the same overall with the 'Roos hitting 47.5 percent compared to UD's 47.2 percent. The two squads both made 12 free throws, but the home team was 7-for-18 (38.9%) from three compared to UD's 23.5 percent (4-17)
- Austin College edged the Crusaders in rebounds (41-32), assists (16-12), second chance points (16-8), and points in the paint (42-34.
- Turnovers were nearly identical with Dallas committing an extra one, 19-18. The 'Roos held a 26-22 edge in points off turnovers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Dallas never led once from the opening tip, as the home team jumped out with the first five points in a minute. Swisher made a three-pointer to start and after a missed shot by the Crusaders, Feilder connected before Sarrat ended the run a possession later. Kaiser made it a one-point game (5-4) with 18:12 on the clock in the first. Austin College's Baehl started seven-of-nine points scored for his team with a jumper and then capped the streak on a three-pointer that made it 13-6. After a few exchanges, consecutive field goals by Josh Dickerman counted for five points and displayed AC's first double-digit advantage of the night, 18-8.
A little past midway through the first stanza, Sarrat rattled off eight points in a row with a jumper that followed two three-point scoring plays. The first was an and-one with the layup and free throw. His first of two treys in as many attempts nipped the gap to five (25-20) with 8:29.
The 'Roos countered with Feider earning five in a row on two big plays inside the paint less than a minute later. This included a dunk which he was fouled on then a free throw completed the old fashioned three-point play to make it a 30-20 score. A three by Wells and layup by Feilder stretched the run to 12-0. Austin College rode the momentum to a 50-32 that included its largest lead of the game at 24 (48-24) with 2:21.
Most of the second half remained around that distance as the Crusaders worked to dwindle the point difference, but were never able to get within single-digits. With 3:26 remaining in the contest, Tom Kaiser (Nashville, Tenn.) recorded a layup and then after a jumper by Baehl would hit a pair of free throws. Both scoring plays for UD brought the deficit to 13.
The closest Dallas would get was 11. Sarrat chimed in with two free throws and 1:23 left to make things 73-62. A layup by Kaiser near the final buzzer completed the final result in the Crusaders' third straight setback. All three have been to conference foes.
UP NEXT
Dallas travels to Centenary College on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for around 6 p.m. after the women's basketball game.