GEORGETOWN, TEXAS - Southwestern University Men's Basketball were out rebounded 45-31 on Friday night against University of Dallas in route to dropping the first leg of the weekend road trip, 72-63. The Pirates fall to 5-5 overall. However, Southwestern has the chance to bounce back tomorrow night in the non-conference finale at Austin College. 

Southwestern entered the game 11th in the nation in offensive rebounds at 16.56 per game. A key factor in the loss was the Pirates inability to manufacture extra chances at six on the night, opposed to the Crusaders 12. Senior Shobby Enakpene was the leader offensively with his fourth 20+ point game of the season at 21. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Freshman Neo Franco remained in the starting lineup for a third straight game after posting 43 points in his last two games. 
• Junior Zach Shugars, junior Zach Gomez, junior Luke Mills, and Enakpene rounded out the starting five in the 44th meeting between the two squads. 
• Southwestern fell cold offensively as Dallas mounted a 15-0 run early. The Pirates fell behind 23-12, struggling to find any rhythm, specifically beyond the arc. 
• Enakpene helped the Pirates keep the within single-digits with seven points at the under eight point. 
• Senior Patrick Hoffman entered the game to help complete a 15-3 run to take the 27-26 lead for the bucket and a foul. The key to the run was the Pirates ability to the crash the boards and execute at the free throw line. 
• However, Dallas used a 7-0 run to end the half as the Pirates trailed 34-29. 
• Mills cut the deficit to two after crashing the offensive glass.  
• Three straight uncharacteristic turnovers led to the Crusaders gaining the 46-36 lead. 
• Gomez came off an off ball screen to hit a triple to pull within seven with 11 minutes left. 
• Shugars scored from two different levels to cut the deficit to six points with only five minutes left as the Pirates felt momentum. 
• The Crusaders responded by making clutch shots down the stretch and knocking down free throws. 

GAME NOTES

• The Pirates tend to play a quick pace, but were unable to execute in transition tonight with only two fast break points. 
• Southwestern was also 10-18 from the line at 56%. 
• Franco contributed five assists on the night but ran into foul trouble which stunted his scoring total to five points. 
• Gomez excelled once again at taking care of the ball with only one turnover in three games. The point guard also contributed 11 points, averaging 14 in his past three games. 
• Shugars registered 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists.