Box Score (html)
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – A defensive stop in a 68-68 tie ballgame with 17 seconds remaining set the stage for a game-winning jump shot by SWOSU senior
Kenyan Borders, who knocked down a deep two-pointer with just under two seconds to play, lifting the Bulldogs to a 70-68 win over Central Oklahoma on Tuesday night.
"When Coach asked me if I wanted the ball, I told him yes, quickly," Borders said after helping the Bulldogs overcome a 16-point first-half deficit for the victory. "I was confident, but I never would have been in position for that play if it wasn't for my teammates."
It was
Emeche Wells who tied the game at 68-68 after UCO's Mahlon Jones got loose for a three-pointer with one minute to play. Wells came down on the ensuing possession and hit his third three of the night to knot the score and set the scene for the dramatics. SWOSU's defense swarmed on Jones as he drove the next possession and the rebound fell out-of-bounds of a Broncho, allowing SWOSU to take the final shot.
That was when Borders – who finished with eight points, six assists and four rebounds – sealed the game. A three-quarter court heave was the last chance for Central Oklahoma, who drops to 4-2 after the defeat.
After starting quickly, SWOSU found themselves facing a 38-26 deficit with 4:30 to play in the opening half before Wells jump-started a 9-0 run with a three off a dish from
Trent Washington. The Bulldogs closed the half on a 13-5 run to get within four, 43-39 at the break.
That run continued out of the intermission as SWOSU scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 45-43 lead on a lay-in from
Martell Collins, who finished with a team-best 23 points. The game was played within a five-point margin the rest of the way, but the Bulldogs went cold for a spurt and found themselves trailing by five, 65-60, with five minutes to play.
As they did in the first half, SWOSU closed superbly and outscored Central Oklahoma 10-3 in the final five minutes, limiting the Bronchos to just one three-pointer by Jones during that span.
Collins led SWOSU with 23 points and five rebounds while Wells poured in 16 points and grabbed a team-best eight boards as the Bulldogs out-rebounded UCO 33-29. Washington added 13 points, including 3-of-7 shooting from long range to go along with four assists.
Ayo Ojo, who was limited to 19 minutes while battling foul trouble, scored six points and pulled down six rebounds while also recording a crucial blocked shot in the final minutes with four fouls.
"We persevered through some tough segments tonight," SWOSU Coach
Bob Battisti said following his team's third victory of the season. "Emeche really hit a big shot to set Kenyan up and after our defense made a critical stop, I turned to our senior point guard. In the huddle I asked Kenyan if he wanted to be a hero and he looked me in the eye and said 'yes' and when a player looks you in the eye, you know he wants it!"
SWOSU improves to 3-2 on the year with the victory and they now head out on the road for their next two games. The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday as they travel to Goodwell, Okla., to take on Panhandle State with tip time set for 3:00 pm.
