Box Score (html)
BETHANY, Okla. – SWOSU came roaring back from 21 points down in the second half, getting within three in the final minutes before Southern Nazarene held on for an 82-77 Route 66 Rivalry victory on Saturday afternoon in Bethany.
Southern Nazarene opened the game with an 11-2 run, causing SWOSU to call their first timeout and leaving the Bulldogs playing from behind all afternoon. The Crimson Storm led by as many as 25 in the first half and had SWOSU doubled up, 38-19, at the break after holding the Dawgs to 24.1% field goal shooting and 1-for-13 shooting from three-point range.
The Crimson Storm maintained a lead of double figures – and as high as 20 – through the first 12 minutes of the second half before the Bulldogs finally got within nine at 58-49 on a jumper from
Wesley Franklin. SWOSU kept chipping away down the stretch as
Martell Collins heated up and made a shot that cut it to four, 73-69, with 1:54 to play and a trio of free throws made it 80-77 with 19 seconds remaining. In the end, SNU put the game away with free throws and SWOSU missed their last two field goal attempts that could have drawn them closer.
Collins led the Bulldogs with a game-high 25 points on 7-of-16 shooting and he hit 11-of-14 free throw attempts.
Markeise Champion scored 17 points and dished out three assists while
Juwan Newmen and
Ayo Ojo had eight rebounds apiece to lead the Bulldogs.
Nick Shoemaker hit a trio of three pointers and scored nine points for the third straight game.
"We tried a little bit too hard in the first half, we played well we just didn't make shots," Coach
Bob Battisti said following the game. "We could have packed it in at halftime and lost by 30, but these guys fought and battled back. We did everything we could to try and win the game in the second half and I'm proud of them for that."
Saturday's loss is the fourth straight by the Bulldogs and drops SWOSU to 8-6 overall for the year and evens their conference record at 4-4. They have little rest before returning to action on Big Monday when they host the rival Rangers of Northwestern Oklahoma State in the Pioneer Cellular Event Center.
