GEORGETOWN, TEXAS - Southwestern University Men's Basketball jumped on Texas Lutheran University from the opening tip and never look back on Thursday night at home, 85-72. The Pirates started the game on a 14-3 run to set the tone and start the season 2-0. 

Southwestern recognized seniors Zach Gomez and Drey Moss pregame, celebrating senior day early. Both talented guards have helped turn this program around with an 11-game win improvement last season as we can't see what the two do this year in the encore. Both enter their second season with the program as pivotal transfers. 

The Pirates looked to avenge last season's narrow defeat to the Bulldogs in the final season playing as non-conference opponents as both will meet next year as SCAC members. The Pirates started Neo Franco, Elijah Thomas, Mason Lawrence, Gomez, and Moss. 

The first 12 points were scored by five different Pirates, highlighted by back-to-back threes from Franco and Moss. Eyal Shamri entered the game and immediately scored four points on a dunk and jumper to make it 14-3. Eli Pittman posterized the Bulldogs defender to make it 16-9 for the highlight of the night. Lawrence was feasting in the paint all night with back-to-back scoring, building a 22-13 lead. The Bulldogs mounted a small comeback before Franco tacked on eight points in the final five minutes to go into halftime up 40-29. 

The guards continued to attack in the second, while Lawrence was fed inside, leading 51-33. Shamri continued to get downhill and hit from deep with a quiet 16 points on the night as Franco was the leader at 24 points for the win. 

GAME NOTES

• Southwestern won a key statistic, out rebounding the Bulldogs 44-31. 
• They also finished 48% shooting from the field. 
• Franco had 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. 
• Lawrence totaled 18 points on 6 boards. 
• Shamri also added 16 points on 5 boards. 
• 10 different Pirates scored on Thursday. 

UP NEXT
Southwestern stays at home to battle University of Dallas on Sunday at 2 p.m.