Box Score (html)
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Ouachita Baptist secured their spot atop the Great American Conference standings for a few more days by holding off a late rally from SWOSU for a 66-58 victory on Thursday evening at the Pioneer Cellular Event Center.
OBU built an 11-point lead at 51-40 with 7:56 to play before the Bulldogs stormed back and got within two after
Emeche Wells hit back-to-back three-pointers, making it 57-55 with 1:30 to play. After a great sequence of defense by the Bulldogs, OBU's point guard Micah Delph got
Kenyan Borders to leave his feet and jumped into him, but he was rewarded with the foul call and three free throws with exactly one minute remaining on the clock.
The foul call seemed to change the remainder of the game as SWOSU was unable to regain their footing, enabling Ouachita Baptist to salt the game away at the free throw line.
After taking a 32-29 lead at the break, SWOSU's offense sputtered to start the second half with the Bulldogs managing just eight points in the first 12 minutes of the half. SWOSU shot just 33.9% (19-of-56) from the field and 21.7% (5-of-23) from 3-point range for the game and misfired on eight free throw attempts while the Tigers hit 80% from the line.
"I was happy with our effort and I'm pleased that Emeche hit those two big three's in the final minute to cut it to two and give us a chance," SWOSU Coach
Bob Battisti said. "We just didn't shoot the ball well enough to win a game in the GAC, so now we have to regroup and get ready for Southern Arkansas."
Martell Collins and
Emeche Wells tied for team-high honors with 14 points while Collins posted a sixth double-double for the season with an additional 12 rebounds.
Ayo Ojo had eight points and six rebounds along with three blocked shots while
Kenyan Borders added nine points.
SWOSU falls to 8-5 on the year with the defeat and 2-4 in GAC play heading into Saturday's matchup with Southern Arkansas, which will tip off at 3:00 pm from the Pioneer Cellular Event Center.
