Box Score (html)
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – After building a 16-point first-half lead and taking a 42-28 lead into the break, the SWOSU men's basketball team had to overcome a late deficit to defeat Southwestern Christian 74-71 on Tuesday night at the Pioneer Cellular Event Center.
SWOSU was filled with energy and enthusiasm early, led by
Ayo Ojo, who put down three rim-rattling dunks in the first half and
Richard McCalop converted a fast-break alley-oop from
Trent Washington to bring the home crowd to their feet. It was McCalop that pushed the Bulldogs lead to 16 at 30-14 with 7:02 to play in the half and the Bulldogs kept the distance as they led 42-28 at halftime.
After the Bulldogs scored the opening bucket of the second half, it was SCU that played with more energy over a near seven-minute stretch as they outscored SWOSU 21-4 and took their first lead at 49-48 with just over 13 minutes to play. The teams exchanged leads and tied multiple times as the visitors continued to lead until late in the game.
An and-1 converted by
Martell Collins coming out of the under four media timeout got the game tied at 64-64 and SWOSU would not trail the remainder of the way. The game was slowed down by both teams with plenty of free throws shot in the final three minutes, but it was the Bulldogs salting the way from the line, hitting eight of their final 10 attempts from the stripe.
Collins – coming off the bench for the first time this season – led the Bulldogs with 21 points and seven rebounds while Borders added 16 points and two assists, including perfect 6-for-6 free throw shooting.
Trent Washington and Ojo had 12 and 11 points, respectively, and Ojo matched Collins with team-high honors of seven assists.
"We were fortunate to win but we gutted it out and found a way to win," SWOSU's Head Coach
Bob Battisti said following the game. "We need to take care of the ball better and limit our turnovers but I expect us to learn from our performance tonight. We're and work in progress and we'll continue to get better."
SWOSU improves to 2-1 on the year heading into Great American Conference play, which begins already on Saturday at Harding. Tip time is scheduled for 3:00 pm inside historic Rhodes Field House.
