SEGUIN, Texas - Twenty-fifth ranked Texas Lutheran opened defense of its 2015 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship with a 91-87 home overtime win against Southwestern.

Saturday in TLU's Memorial Gymnasium, the Bulldogs needed two late free throws from Zach Behr (Temple/Temple) to force overtime. Behr made two free throws to tie the game at 80 with 11 seconds to play.

TLU then survived a final Southwestern possession, which ended in a turnover and did not produce a shot.

In the extra session, point guard Sterling Holmes (San Antonio/Antonian) scored the first six points for TLU. Holmes scored seven of the Bulldogs' 11 points in the overtime.

TLU improved to 9-3 overall and moved to 1-0 in the SCAC. The Bulldogs have won four straight against the Pirates.

Southwestern fell to 3-9 overall and to 0-1 in the SCAC.

Holmes scored 26 to lead TLU. He added nine rebounds and six assists. He scored half of his 26 points at the free throw line, where he made 13 of his 17 free throw attempts.

Bulldog shooting guard Jordan Kouremetis (San Antonio/O'Connor) delivered 22 points. He made six of his eight three-pointers.

Behr was the only other Bulldog in double figures. He scored 11. Harris Jowell (Brock/Brock) registered nine points and six rebounds.

Ryan Ogden paced the Pirates with 22. He added four blocks, three rebounds and two steals. Chris Molina chipped in 19 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Connor Kim scored 16 for Southwestern off the bench. He added six assists and three rebounds.

The Bulldogs continue SCAC play next Friday and Saturday with home conference doubleheaders (men and women games) against University of Dallas and Austin College. All game will have live video and live stats on tlubulldogs.com.