The Mustang Men's Basketball Team defeated the Our Lady of the Lake Saints University (6-18 4-12 RRAC) 86-78 Saturday night, ending Southwest's (5-18; 3-13 RRAC) eight-game losing streak. USW limited the Saints to seven three-point field goals after OLLU has been averaging over 11-three point field goals per game this season.
 
The Mustangs had six players in double figures on 62% percent shooting. Emmanuel McNeil had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Tyler Watt's scored a career-high 16 points on five of seven shooting to help extend a 4 point lead into a 12 point lead, late in the 2nd half of the game.

In a back and forth game from the beginning tip, the Mustangs never wavered, even when trailing by 5 points at halftime 46-39. "Coach Brewer and I challenged the team at halftime to play better defense and if they would, we thought we would come back and win" Mustang's head coach Timm Dixon said. "Credit to our guys for playing better defense in the second half, but even better, we took care of the ball and only had 5 turnovers in the 2nd half and that led us to shoot 69% in the second half." The Mustangs rose to the challenge, hitting 18-of-26 shots in the second half and 4-of-10 from beyond the arc.
 
Joshua Harris scored 15 points and Akeem Black, Rontrell Hills & John Paul Garcia each chipped in 11 points to help grow a 4-point lead with 4:56 remaining to double digits. "I felt the key point in the game was when we inbounded the ball underneath our own basket with only 2 seconds left on the shot clock. We called a timeout and drew up a inbounds play that we've never ran, and OLLU fouled us and we made two free throws that turned the momentum in our favor" said Timm Dixon. "It really propelled us into a big run that included a big defensive stop and steal by Josh right after."
 
OLLU was able to get within 9 points at the 1:32 mark remaining after trading buckets down the stretch but the Mustang's free-throw shooting and rebounding advantage secured the game.
 
USW has two games left in its schedule against Jarvis Christian and nationally ranked #13 Wiley College at home this Thursday (Feb. 21/7 p.m.) and Saturday (Feb. 23/7 p.m.) to close out the season.