Box Score (html)
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – In a seesaw battle that saw seven ties and eight lead changes, SWOSU's
Ayo Ojo made sure Arkansas-Monticello would not send the game into overtime with a block on the Boll Weevils' Richard Benedyth as time expired, lifting the Bulldogs to an 83-81 victory on Thursday night in the Pioneer Cellular Event Center.
After UAM took their largest lead of five at 54-49 with 15:02 to play, the Bulldogs went on a 6-0 run to take the lead before going ahead for good at the 10:12 mark of the game. SWOSU kept the Weevils at arm's length for most of the final 10 minutes before a late push by UAM tied the game at 80-80 a 3-pointer from Benedyth with 53 seconds to play.
Martell Collins scored on the ensuing possession to help SWOSU regain the lead but SWOSU's
Trent Washington fouled Jamal Peterson on a 3-point attempts with eight seconds remaining, sending Peterson to the line to shoot three. With the Bulldog crowd alive and on their feet, Peterson missed his first two attempts before draining the third to make it a one-point game at 82-81.
Washington was then fouled on the inbounds pass and made one-of-two free throws, leaving the Bulldogs protecting a two-point lead on the final possession. Benedyth went the length of the court, using a screen to get into the lane and near the basket before Ojo came from the weak side to send the shot attempt right back into the arms of
Richard McCalop as the final horn sounded.
SWOSU scored 83 points, their second-highest scoring output of the season, behind a 20-point, nine-rebound performance from
Martell Collins off the bench. Collins was 7-of-19 from the field to go along with 5-of-6 free throw shooting. Washington added 14 points on 5-of-16 shooting with a season-high eight assists while
Kenyan Borders and
Emeche Wells both chipped in 12 points.
Ojo, one of several Bulldogs who battled foul trouble, seemed to control the game in the paint for a brief stretch early in the second half before being saddled with his fourth foul. He finished the game with eight points, five rebounds and two blocks in just 13 minutes of action. His replacement,
Oliver Willis, was very active in relief, scoring six points, including two clutch late baskets, with six rebounds in 18 minutes of work. SWOSU's fifth starter, McCalop, also added eight points, three rebounds and three assists.
"Our game plan was to punch it inside, but when Ayo got in foul trouble we had to adjust," SWOSU Head Coach
Bob Battisti said after his Bulldogs claimed their second straight victory. "I'm glad we had Ayo back at the end, because he's our rim protector and that block at the end ultimately won us the game. Give Monticello credit, they played really hard and gave us a great battle on our home court. I told our guys in the locker room, you have to win these kinds of games and we'll take the momentum and move on to Henderson State."
SWOSU has now won back-to-back games, improving to 13-11 (7-10 GAC) on the year and setting up a crucial game on Saturday against Henderson State. Both teams are tied at 7-10 in GAC play, with Saturday's victor in control for the eighth and final spot in the GAC Tournament next month in Bartlesville. Tipoff between the Bulldogs and Reddies will be at 3:00 pm Saturday afternoon.
