HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - No. 9 Southwestern University built up a five-goal advantage and had to hold off a late rally by No. 15 Savannah College of Art and Design for a 9-7 men's lacrosse victory Friday (March 13) evening at the SCAD Athletics Complex.

The Bees fell to 2-8. SCAD returns to action Saturday (March 14) with a 6 p.m. home match against No. 8 Elon University.

SCAD, which had played the past seven matches on the road, got off to a quick start as Derek Shurson scored off a Shelton Polka assist just eight seconds into the match. The Bees added a goal by Brandon Ussery at the 10:33 mark to take a 2-0 lead. However, that would be the last time SCAD would find the back of the next for nearly the next 29 minutes.

The Pirates reeled off seven unanswered goals during the SCAD drought to build a 7-2 advantage when Andrew Webb scored 40 seconds into the third quarter. Wade Winebrenner and Polka score back-to-back goals to get within 7-4 with 5:34 remaining in the third quarter.

A Webb goal a minute later gave Southwestern an 8-4 lead before SCAD scored three fourth-quarter goals - one by Kyle Narkiewicz and two by Shurson - to pull within a goal at 8-7 with 2:40 to play. However, the Pirates thwarted the comeback when Nathan Carney added an insurance goal with 1:29 left.