GEORGETOWN, Texas -- Texas Lutheran closed out its regular season and Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference campaigns with an 83-81 overtime loss Friday at Southwestern University.
Already assured of the top seed for the SCAC Championship tournament and the outright SCAC regular-season championship, the Bulldogs fought hard for a win that likely would keep the team atop the NCAA DIII South Region rankings.
Instead, Southwestern knocked off TLU at the Robertson Center. The Pirates go into the SCAC tournament with a five-game win streak. The Bulldogs and Pirates split the season series, with each team winning at home.
Playing without second-leading scorer
Jordan Kouremetis, who missed the game due to injury, the Bulldogs received a game-tying three-pointer from
Paris Marquez with 22 seconds to play in regulation. Southwestern's final shot missed at the end of regulation, and the two teams headed to the extra session.
In the overtime, Southwestern grabbed a late three-point lead with four free throws over two possessions. TLU had a chance to tie when
Jacob Kouremetis was fouled shooting a three-point attempt with 21 seconds to play. Kouremetis missed the first free throw but made the next two to make it a one-point game.
Zackary Whitlock then made 1-of-2 at the line, setting up a final Kouremetis jumper with three seconds on the clock. Kouremetis' shot did not go in, and Ryan Ogden grabbed the final rebound for Southwestern.
TLU dropped to 19-6 overall and to 11-3 in the SCAC. Southwestern improved to 13-12 overall and to 10-4 in the SCAC.
Zach Behr led TLU with 20 points. He added three assists and three rebounds. Marquez contributed 14 points, and
Aris Qadash Williams chipped in 11 points.
Harris Jowell and
Blake Ray each grabbed six rebounds for the Bulldogs.
TLU now travels to Shreveport, La. for the conference championship tournament. TLU, the No. 1 seed, will played the winner of the No. 4 seed Centenary v. No. 5 seed (to be determined) contest on Saturday, Feb. 27 at Centenary College's Gold Dome. Tip-off for the semifinal matchup is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Bulldogs won the 2014-15 SCAC Championship tournament and advanced to the NCAA Division III Men's Championship (first round).
