The Packers overcame a rough shooting night and a physical opponent to win their boys basketball home opener 68-53 over Mankato West in Packer Gym Thursday.

Austin led by as many as 10 early in the second half, but the Scarlets (4-1 overall, 2-1 Big Nine) used a quick burst to pull within 49-44 with 5:02 left in the game.

Austin senior Ajuda Nywesh had a big answer has he dropped in seven points in a 30-second stretch to put the Packers (4-0 overall, 2-0 Big Nine) up 56-44. He converted a drive for a lay-up where he was fouled and hit the free throw to make it 52-44 with 4:37 left.

Nywesh also hit a big-time running jumper at the end of the first half to put Austin up 32-27 at the break.

“They’re probably one of the toughest half court teams we’ll play in the Big Nine,” Nywesh said. “Everyone else can play also, but [West is] definitely tough.”

Austin shot 41 percent from the field, 29 percent on 3-pointers and 60 percent on free throws and the Packers were also out-rebounded 42-24. But their trio of senior guards dominated the game as Nywesh had 18 points and three steals, Zach Wessels had 20 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four steals and Bret Lukes had 11 points.

Austin had just six turnovers and it forced 20 Scarlet turnovers.

“Those three senior guards are really good and that’s the way it should be every game for us,” Austin head coach Kris Fadness said. “I can’t believe there are too many teams in the state that have three better guards than what we’ve got.”

Wessels put an exclamation point on the win when he made a driving lay-up over West’s Ryan Schlichte to put things away. Austin was able to hold off the Scarlets down the stretch as they became more and more physical.

“They’re pretty much all football guys. They like to play tough and in your face,” Wessels said. “They were starting to play cheap [at the end] and we played well through that and we won the game.”

Ausitn didn’t get a lot of scoring from its front-court, but Curtis Oberbroeckling and Gach Gach each had two blocks in the win. Gach added seven points, five rebounds and three steals.

“I like the way we came out in the second half and I thought Gach gave us a great three minute start,” Fadness said. “I really liked our composure tonight in terms of withstanding their physicality and still being able to run our offense and not letting it bother us.”

The Scarlets led just once on the night when they took a 10-8 lead, but Austin’s Jacob Kempen hit a pair of 3s to put the Packers back up 16-10.

West 27 25 — 53

Austin 32 36 — 68

Austin scoring: Zach Wessels, 20; Ajuda Nywesh, 18; Bret Lukes, 11; Gach Gach, 7; Jacob Kempen, 6; Nik Gasner, 3; Noah Brehmer, 3; field goals: 41 percent (21-for-51); three-pointers: 29 percent (8-for-28); free throws: 60 percent (18-for-30); rebounds: 24 (Wessels, 6); turnovers: 6