Box Score (html)
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Martell Collins and
Collin Jennings combined for 40 points to lead SWOSU to their first victory of the season over Nebraska-Kearney by a score of 79-72 on Saturday evening. The game was the finale of the SWOSU Classic.
The Bulldogs led wire-to-wire after Collins scored the first bucket of the game less than one minute in. They led by as much as 10 in the first half after a triple from
Markeise Champion made it 32-22, but a quick burst by UNK made it 39-33 at the break.
A three-pointer by
Nick Shoemaker pushed that lead back to 10 early in the second half and the Bulldogs kept UNK at arm's length for most of the second half, holding a lead of at least three the rest of the way. Free throws from
Keyshawn Perkins made it 73-62 with 2:26 to play, giving the Bulldogs enough of a cushion to hold off a late push from the Lopers.
Emeche Wells hit a pair of free throws and Perkins hit one-of-two in the game's final seconds to seal the victory.
SWOSU shot 43.1% (22-of-51) from the field for the game and hit 7-of-20 (35.0%) from downtown to earn their first victory of the season, behind Collins, who finished with 21 points and six rebounds, and Jennings, who added 19 points and six rebounds in his second game as a Bulldog.
Juwan Newmen added a team-high 12 rebounds and three blocked shots, helping the Bulldogs to a +11 mark in the rebound margin.
The Bulldogs limited UNK star Connor Beranek to 17 points and seven rebounds, numbers that only sound limited when compared to his 39 points and 15 rebounds against Southern Nazarene on Friday afternoon. Trey Lansman led the Lopers with 10 points and 10 rebounds as UNK shot 37.7% from the field and hit just 5-of-31 shots from down town.
"This was a great win for our guys against a quality, well-coached team," SWOSU Head Coach
Bob Battisti said following the victory. "Collin and Martell were big playmakers for us tonight and we got good overall production from the entire team. Our focus now is Arkansas Tech and getting into conference play."
The non-conference portion of the schedule now takes a break as SWOSU, at 1-1 on the year, welcomes Arkansas Tech to the Pioneer Cellular Event Center on Thursday evening for the GAC opener. Tipoff of the men's game is slated for 7:30 pm.
