Box Score (xml)
MONTICELLO, Ark. – Four players scored in double figures as the Bulldogs won their fifth straight game of the season, 71-66, over the University of Arkansas at Monticello to remain unbeaten in the Great American Conference.
After being held scoreless in the first half, the two-headed attack of
Martell Collins and
Collin Jennings awoke in the second half to combine for 29 points. Collins finished with a team-high 15 points, and Jennings poured in 29, as the Dawgs outscored UAM 42-39.
Both offenses started out slowly, feeling each other out to open the game. By the 14:38 mark in the first half, the Bulldogs held just a 9-4 lead over the Weevils after
Nick Shoemaker splashed in a three-point attempt. UAM eventually tied it at 11-all midway through the half, but a quick 6-0 run, highlighted by a trey by sharpshooter
Markeise Champion, pushed the Bulldogs back in front. Late in the half the Weevils finally managed to wrestle the lead from SWOSU, 27-26, but Shoemaker again had the answer with another long-range effort with two seconds on the clock to give the Bulldogs the lead heading into the locker rooms.
A layup by Collins to open the second half sparked the offense as Jennings quickly followed it up with his first points of the game. The duo took over, inciting a 12-2 run over the opening four minutes of play in the half. The lead would balloon to as many as 12 following a fast break lay-in by Jennings after he stole the ball from Jamal Peterson, and the Weevils were never able to recover despite a 7-2 run with just over four minutes to play. An emphatic dunk by Jennings off another steal by Collins put to bed the potential rally.
"That was a good road win, they are a very talented team," said SWOUS Head Coach
Bob Battisti. "I thought
Martell Collins and
Collin Jennings had big second halves. Emeche also played a lot stronger in the second half. Our guys gave the effort and energy necessary to win, but now we're focusing on Southern Arkansas."
Aside from Collins and Jennings,
Juwan Newmen and
Emeche Wells also reached double figures with 12 and 10 points each. Collins led the Bulldogs on the glass with nine, while Newmen had eight.
SWOSU returns to action on Saturday afternoon with a 3:00 p.m. tilt against Southern Arkansas in Magnolia, Arkansas in the final game of a three-game roadswing.
