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Southern Nazarene (5-3, 2-2 GAC) at SWOSU (6-2, 1-1 GAC) Saturday, December 13, 3:00 pm Weatherford, Okla. (Pioneer Cellular Event Center) Live Stats  |  Watch Live  |  Live Audio SWOSU Game Notes (pdf)

Setting the Stage
- SWOSU carries a four-game winning streak - tied for the longest active streak in the GAC - into their conference home opener on Saturday afternoon against Southern Nazarene
- The Bulldogs are 3-0 on their home court, but they've won those three games by just a combined six points, including a one-point victory over Hillsdale Baptist last Saturday
- SNU enters with a 5-3 overall record and a 2-2 mark in conference play and they are 3-1 on the road this season
- Fans will be granted FREE admission with a donation to the Weatherford Toy Drive with SWOSU student-athletes and staff taking donations at the door
 
The Opponent
Southern Nazarene (5-3, 2-2 GAC)
- Enter the game with a 5-3 record, including a 2-2 mark in GAC play
- Started the season 5-0 before suffering three consecutive defeats to Central Oklahoma, Northwestern Oklahoma State and Southeastern Oklahoma State
- Lost their last road game, at NWOSU, but they are still 3-1 away from home on the year
- One of the lower scoring teams in the GAC, averaging exactly 70.0 points per game to date with a season-best 83 in a win over Southwestern Christian in their season opener
- Led in scoring by LB Willis, who is averaging 14.1 points per contest, while Francisco Hukill is adding 11.5 ppg
- Ranked fourth in the GAC with 67 steals (8.4/game) and they have a +2.0 turnover margin for the season
- Willis has also recorded 34 assists (4.3/game) and 23 steals (2.9/game), leading the GAC in both categories
 
The Coaches
SWOSU: Bob Battisti (23-12, 2nd season; 432-308 career, 26th season)
- Bob Battisti was named the 14th head men's basketball coach in SWOSU history prior to last season after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Oklahoma Christian University
- Battisti led the Bulldogs to a 17-10 record in his first season, marking a five-win improvement from the previous season
- Three players earned All-GAC distinction in Battisti's first season at SWOSU, including GAC Player of the Year Rod Camphor and Defensive Player of the Year Michael Bradley
- SWOSU committed the fewest turnovers in NCAA Division II in Battisti's first season with 243, an average of just 9.0 per game
- Previously spent 25 years at Northwestern Oklahoma State, coaching the men's basketball team for 21 seasons before taking over as the school's athletic director
- In 25 years as a head coach, Battisti has a career record of 432-308 (.583)
 
Adam Bohac (134-67, 7th season)
- Has led the Crimson Storm through the transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II, now in his seventh season at the school
- Before last season, he led SNYU to three straight appearances in the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship
- Second coach in program history to reach three straight national tournaments, including a quarterfinal appearance in 2010
- Won 20 or more games in each of his first four seasons with SNU and he's never finished with a record below .500
 
Last Time Out
- For the third time in the past four games, SWOSU's Kenyan Borders scored the game-deciding points, hitting 1-of-2 free throws with 2.0 seconds left as the Bulldogs held off Hillsdale Baptist 82-81 last Saturday
- SWOSU overcame an eight-point deficit in the first half to tie the game at 35-35 at halftime
- The Bulldog appeared in control after pulling ahead 64-55 with 8:30 to play before Hillsdale rallied back and took a 76-73 lead with 2:44 remaining
- Emeche Wells and Borders led the Bulldogs in outscoring HB 9-5 down the stretch, with Borders drawing a foul and hitting the deciding free throw
 
Checking the Standings
- SWOSU earned their first conference victory last Thursday at East Central and they currently sit tied for fifth in the standings at 1-1
- The Bulldogs and SNU have the same winning percentage in conference games, but the Crimson Storm have played four games with a 2-2 record
- Each team in the GAC has already suffered a conference defeat, with Southern Arkansas, East Central and Henderson State atop the standings at 3-1 in league play
 
SWOSU Notes
- The late-game heroics of senior point guard Kenyan Borders, including game-winning shots in both games last week, earned him the GAC Player of the Week award on Monday
- Borders averaged 17.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game and he becomes just the second Bulldogs to be named GAC Player of the Week in the past four years
- The Bulldogs have now won four straight games, tying them with Henderson State for the longest current streak in the GAC
- After allowing just one 20-point performance in the first seven games of the season, the Bulldogs had two opposing players from Hillsdale Baptist reach the 20-point plateau last Saturday
- Martell Collins and Kenyan Borders each scored career highs to lead SWOSU against Hillsdale, with Collins pouring in 24 and Borders 23
- The 81 points scored by Hillsdale was the most against the Bulldogs this season and it dropped SWOSU from first in the GAC in scoring defense (65.2 points per game)
- SWOSU's second-leading scorer, Trent Washington, was held to a season-low four points against Hillsdale Baptist, the first time this season he failed to score at least 12 points
- Ayo Ojo had 11 points and four rebounds against Hillsdale Baptist before fouling for the second time this season. Ojo has scored at least 11 points in four of the Bulldogs past six games
- Emeche Wells had his best offensive game as a Bulldog against the Saints, scoring 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including an old-fashioned 3-point play to tie the game in the final minutes
 
Looking Ahead
- SWOSU heads to Russellville next Wednesday at the conclusion of finals week to face Arkansas Tech in conference action. It will be the final game for the Bulldogs before the semester break