GEORGETOWN, TEXAS - Southwestern University Men's Basketball took down Sewanee on Sunday afternoon winning the clutch moments once again down the stretch, 78-75. The Pirates dominated the turnover margin and held one of the best scorers in the conference, Fletcher Bigham, to only seven points. Southwestern collects back-to-back conference wins for the first time since 2022-23, improving to 9-9 overall and 3-4 in the SAA. 

The Pirates were out rebounded 40-31, but found ways to execute in clutch moments as senior Luke Hatcher iced the game with two big free throws. The weekend sweep moves the squad from last place into fifth. Senior Shobby Enakpene (24), sophomore Aedan Lewis (17), junior Zach Gomez (15), and junior Luke Mills all totaled double figure points in the win. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• The Pirates looked to continue to climb the SAA standings as Sewanee entered the game 4-2.
• For the second straight game, Southwestern started Enakpene, Lewis, Hatcher, Mills, and Gomez. 
• The Tigers have two players in Nikolas Avaliani and Bigham who averaged 19 PPG. Bigham was the former national player of the week, averaging 31.5 PPG in two games last week. 
• Enakpene started the game hot, scoring nine of the first 14 Pirate points. 
• Gomez knocked down back-to-back triples, including completing a four-point play giving the Pirates a 40-32 advantage. 
• The Tigers pulled within a possession before Enakpene scored four points in the paint to close the half at 47-40. 
• Southwestern's offensive explosion in the first half marked the fourth most points in a half this season, after scoring a season-high 53 against Oglethorpe University. 
• Enakpene scored 20 points in the half. 
• Southwestern has struggled coming out of halftimes this weekend as the Tigers took a 55-52 lead. 
• However, the Pirates answered with a 19-10 run. Lewis erupted on the six minute run with 15 of the 19 points. 
• Sewanee made a run before freshman Neo Franco silenced the momentum with a three as Southwestern led 74-70 with under four minutes. 
• The Tigers scored with 44 seconds left down one. Hatcher was sent to the line with eight seconds to play. 
• Hatcher has struggled from the line this season at 40%, but stepped up and buried both to build a 78-75 lead. The Pirates forced a turnover on the game-tying attempt to win another one possession game. 

GAME NOTES

• Southwestern has won four games by one possession in their past eight.  
• The Pirates season achilles heal has been at the line. The Pirates finished the weekend at 60% from the line, but were 100% in the final five minutes of each game. 
• The Tigers were forced to shoot 13% from three with 13 turnovers, opposed to the Pirates eight. 
• Mills played a big factor down low with ten points and five boards. 
• Enakpene will be a prime player of the week canditate with 24.5 points per game this weekend. 
• Lewis finished with 17 points on five rebounds. The sophomore has totaled 5+ rebounds in eight straight games. 
• Southwestern failed to hold Avaliani down with 26 points, but forced him to foul out with five minutes left. The Pirates did succeed in shutting down the former national player of the week, Bigham with only seven points. 

UP NEXT
Southwestern hits the road next weekend to take on the same opponents with Centre College on Friday night and Sewanee on Sunday afternoon.