AUSTIN, Texas - The Concordia Men's basketball team's last second free-throws was the difference as they defeated Sul Ross State 97-95 on Saturday afternoon.
 
Rashad Coleman, in his final game inside Concordia Fieldhouse, scored a career-high 28 points, including being a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc and added six steals. Joe Neal dealt with foul trouble all game but was still able to finish with 19 points and seven rebounds. The Tornados would take advantage of the Lobos' turnovers converting their 23 turnovers into 29 points.
 
In the first half, CTX would shoot 48.4 percent from the field, but turnovers allowed 17 points for SRSU. The Tornados took an early 15-9 lead, but the Lobos responded with a 14-0 run to grab the lead with 10:25 left. Led by Joe Neal's five points, CTX would go on a 10-2 to knot it up at 25 with 7:31 remaining. SRSU would go on to take their largest lead of the game at 42-29 after a 17-4, including four three-pointers. The Lobos also dominated the paint, outscoring the Tornados 20-14 in the first half. Philip Meikle, who had 13 points in the game, scored a layup to cut it the deficit to 42-37 at the half.
 
In the second half, CTX would outscore SRSU 60-53, as they shot 54.5 from the field, including being 21-26 from the free-throw line. Trailing 50-42 with 16:57 remaining, the Tornados would go on a 14-0 run capped by a Payton Barnes steal and the layup on the break to make it 56-50. Barnes would finish the game with nine points, five rebounds, and four assists.
 
Down 95-93 with 15 seconds remaining, Coleman would knock down two from the charity stripe to tie it up at 95 all. After a Lobos' missed jumper, Meikle was fouled while grabbing the rebound with 1 second remaining. Meikle went to line for two free-throws and a chance at the lead.  . He knocked down both to give CTX the lead for good as SRSU was unable to get a shot off at the buzzer and won 97-95.
 
It was senior day for the Tornados, as Ayotude Akinbote, Payton Brown-Simon and Coleman were honored before the game. Akinbote, in six minutes of play, had four points and a rebound, while Brown-Simon had a couple of rebounds for CTX.
 
The Tornados closes out the season on the road, traveling to Abilene, Texas to face Hardin-Simmons on Thursday, Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m. and then will face McMurry on Feb. 18.