GEORGETOWN, TEXAS - Southwestern University Men's Basketball fell short in the final seconds against Millsaps College on Friday night, 72-69. The Pirates drop to fifth in the SAA standings at 10-11 overall and 4-6 in conference play with four games remaining as the race to clinch a spot in the tournament is tight. 

Southwestern found an open look from three to tie the game at 72, but missed after making another second half comeback. Sophomore Aedan Lewis was a monster down low with a career-high 27 points. The Robertson Center was rocking tonight with multiple fellow Pirate sports teams rooting the squad on with an attendance of 441. 

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• Tonight marked a big opportunity to further separate themselves from a talented Millsaps squad who entered the game at 2-6 in the SAA. The Majors severely underperformed in recent games after starting the season 9-2 in non-conference. 
• The Pirates started senior Shobby Enakpene, senior Luke Hatcher, junior Luke Mills, junior Zach Gomez, and Lewis. 
• Both teams played an extremely fast pace to start the game as we were tied at 20-20 with ten minutes remaining. 
• The Majors made a 16-7 run finding success inside. 
• Lewis helped narrow the gap with 12 first half points, but the Pirates trailed 38-31 at the break. 
• Freshman Neo Franco drained four threes on the night as the Pirates grabbed a 59-57 lead. 
• The Majors regained control, taking a 68-61 lead. 
• However, Lewis rattled the rim with an emphatic dunk along with another clutch Gomez three pointer helping pull within two points under one minute to play.
• With 12 seconds left, Millsaps split free throws as Enakpene narrowly missed the game-tying three to send us to overtime. 

GAME NOTES

• Southwestern only committed nine turnovers, opposed to the Majors 18. 
• However, the big statistical different was Millsaps out rebounding Southwestern 51-31. 
• The game was played inside majority of the night with 72 points combined in the paint. 40 of those points were from the Majors in the paint. 
• Lewis had a special night with 27 points and eight boards. The sophomore is averaging 17.6 points per game in SAA play. 
• The Florida native turned his season around completely after averaging only five points per game in non-conference play. 
• Franco shinned off the bench with his first double-figure scoring night in seven games. 
• Southwestern moves to 6-3 in games decided by five points or less. 

UP NEXT
Southwestern returns to action on Sunday afternoon, hosting Rhodes College at 2 p.m.