SAN ANTONIO, Texas â€" The Texas Lutheran Bulldogs battled back from an 11-point second half deficit and a quick 6-0 disadvantage in the first overtime to defeat the Trinity Tigers 90-84 in double overtime Saturday evening.
 
In Sams Gymnasium, the Bulldogs out-scored Trinity 7-1 in the second overtime to prevail for the first time in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference game against the Tigers.
 
At the least, the Bulldogs will have a share of the SCAC lead through five games of the 2014-15 conference season. TLU and first-year head coach Jimmy Smith are 4-1 in the SCAC and 9-7 overall.
 
Trinity, the defending SCAC champions, lost for the fifth consecutive time and for the 14^th time in 15 games this season. The Tigers are 1-14 overall and 0-4 in the SCAC.
 
TLU won for the first time on the road against Trinity in the Bulldogs' NCAA Division III era (2002 to present).
 
The Bulldogs needed a career-night from freshman guard Austin Pickens to register the conference road win. Making his first collegiate start, Pickens did not disappoint.
 
A 5-foot-11 shooting guard from La Vernia (La Vernia), Pickens made his first seven three-point attempts and finished with career-bests in points (25), rebounds (six), and assists (two).
 
Pickens made eight of his 10 total shots and went 7-for-8 from the three-point line. He was 2-for-2 at the foul line.
 
The Bulldogs received another double-double performance from senior forward Donte McGee (Victoria/Memorial/Texas A&M-Kingsville). McGee also posted career-highs, with a career-best 21 points and career-high 14 rebounds.
 
McGee made six of his 10 shots, two of his three threes and all seven of his free throw attempts.
 
The Bulldogs went to the line 23 times as a team and made 19.
 
Sterling Holmes, TLU's point guard and second-leading scorer, did not have a made field goal until the first overtime. But his five consecutive points in the first OT were monumental as the Bulldogs recovered from a quick 6-0 hole.
 
On back-to-back possessions in the first OT, Holmes drained a jumper and a three-pointer.
 
Holmes (San Antonio/Antonian/Richland College) ended the game with seven points, nine assists and three rebounds.
 
TLU trailed late and led late in regulation and in the first overtime. At the end of regulation, the Bulldogs trailed by five with 3:11 to play and by three with 2:29 remaining.
 
Zach Behr (Temple/Temple/Schreiner) made a three-pointer to bring TLU even, at 68-68 with 1:21 to play in regulation.
 
After an A.J. Pulliam made one of two free throws, Behr delivered again. The sophomore converted a three-point play, with a lay-up and free throw, with 35 seconds on the clock to give the Bulldogs a two-point lead.
 
Behr notched 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting. He made a pair of three-pointers.
 
Pulliam forced the first overtime with a pair of clutch free throws with 12 seconds to play. TLU's last possession of regulation resulted in a turnover.
 
In the late moments of the first overtime, Trinity again led by three until Jordan Kouremetis (San Antonio/O'Connor) tied the game at 81 with a three-pointer.
 
Following a missed Pulliam jumper and a McGee rebound, Pickens drew a two-shot foul and made both, putting the Bulldogs up by two with 53 seconds left in the first OT.
 
Pulliam gave Trinity more life with a fade-away jumper, and TLU had another chance to win with possession of the ball and 35 seconds on the clock.
 
The Bulldogs would turn the ball over once again, giving Trinity a desperation three-point attempt at the buzzer. Matt Jones' shot hit the left side of the rim and bounced off.
 
In the second OT, neither team made a field goal. But the Bulldogs went to the line eight times and made seven.
 
TLU held Trinity the final 5:37 of the overtimes without a made field goal. The Tigers missed their final seven shot attempts.
 
TLU continues its stretch of four consecutive conference road games with contests next Friday and Saturday at Austin College and at University of Dallas, respectively. The Bulldogs and Kangaroos meet at 8 p.m. Friday in Sherman, Texas. The Bulldogs and Crusaders play at 6 p.m. Saturday in Irving, Texas.