Box Score (html)
BOLIVAR, Mo. – Martell Collins made an immediate impact for the Bulldog basketball team, scoring a game-high 21 points to lead SWOSU past Southwest Baptist 65-55 on Friday night at the SBU Classic.
Collins scored 15 points in the first half, helping SWOSU take the lead with just under seven minutes to play and push ahead for a 36-31 lead at the break. A pair of free throws put SWOSU up 34-27 late in the half before SBU scored four straight points but it was
Kenyan Borders that stopped that run with a driving layup at the buzzer to get the Dawgs back up by five.
Southwest Baptist closed to within three on their second possession of the second half, but the Bulldogs took clear control of the game with a 14-1 run – that included three pointers from
Trent Washington and
Richard McCalop – that gave SWOSU a 52-36 lead with 8:39 to play. The Bulldogs were then able to slow the game down and withstand an SBU run as the Bearcats got within seven before another triple by Washington pushed it back out to a 10-point advantage at 57-47.
SWOSU won the game despite being outrebounded 40-32 and by outshooting Southwest Baptist. The Bulldogs connected on 42.6% of their field goals and 41.2% of their three pointers while holding SBU to less than 33% in both categories.
Collins led SWOSU with 21 points while Washington added 12 and four assists. Borders poured in 11 points to go along with three rebounds and one steal and
Emeche Wells added 10 points – including two fast break slam dunks in the first half – to go along with a team-best seven rebounds.
"I was impressed with our defensive toughness," second-year head coach
Bob Battisti said following the game. "Our guys earned a tough road win by playing with our heart and head and I'm proud of them for that."
The Bulldogs have little time to celebrate the victory as they will return to the court at the Meyer Sports Center on Saturday at 2 pm to conclude the classic against Lincoln University.
