Box Score
Box Score (html)
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Michael Bradley hit two free throws with just over nine seconds remaining, giving SWOSU a 66-65 lead, but Northwestern Oklahoma State's T'aries Taylor hit a runner at the buzzer, ending the Bulldogs six-game win streak and handing SWOSU a 67-66 defeat in their first game inside the Pioneer Cellular Event Center.
The Bulldogs fell behind by 10 at 40-30 early in the second half, but slowly chipped away at the Rangers lead until
Trent Washington hit a deep 3-pointer while being fouled. His free throw gave SWOSU a 61-59 lead with 3:54 to play but back-to-back empty possessions allowed Northwestern to regain a lead of 63-61 on a tip-in by Eze Akwari at the 1:48 mark.
Rod Camphor put SWOSU on top 64-63 with a jumper with 31 seconds remaining, the first of four lead changes in the final minute of the game. Bruce Wright scored for NWOSU with 22 seconds to play before Bradley was fouled and hit two clutch free throws that the Bulldogs hoped would be the difference. Taylor had other plans, fading to the right wing and hitting a runner that went through the basket as time expired.
Camphor led the Bulldogs with 18 points after hitting 7-of-20 field goal attempts while Washington hit four big 3-pointers and scored 17 points. Bradley added 12 points and eight rebounds and
Gary Inglett put in 10 points and eight rebounds.
SWOSU won the rebounding battle, grabbing 43 rebounds compared to 39 for Northwestern, and blocked a season-high 10 shots in the game. The Bulldogs, however, shot just 35.6% (21-of-59) from the field and missed 10 free throws in what boiled down to a one-possession game.
"We made some uncharacteristic plays in the first half and maybe got caught up in the moment," SWOSU Coach
Bob Battisti said after the game. "At halftime, we got turned around and did a lot better job sharing the basketball and playing the way we need to play. Give Northwestern credit, they made the plays they needed to down the stretch to win the game."
The loss snaps a season-best six-game winning streak for the Bulldogs and drops SWOSU to 11-5 (8-2 GAC) on the year. The Bulldogs still head into the second half of the conference slate in first place in the conference, one game ahead of East Central as they head into next Thursday's home game against Southern Arkansas at the Pioneer Cellular Event Center.
