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SWOSU (14-9, 10-7 GAC) at Northwestern Okla. (8-13, 8-9 GAC) Monday, February 15, 7:30 pm Alva, Okla. (Percefull Fieldhouse) Live Stats  |  Watch Live  |  Live Audio SWOSU Game Notes (pdf)

Setting the Stage
- The rivalry between SWOSU and Northwestern Oklahoma State will be renewed on Monday evening in Alva when the Bulldogs head north to face the Rangers at Percefull Fieldhouse
- SWOSU is seeking their first regular season victory in Alva since 1996 and almost 20 years to the day since a 75-66 victory over a Bob Battisti-led Ranger squad on February 14, 1996
- The Bulldogs have dropped their last five regular season contests in Alva, including three straight since Northwestern Oklahoma State joined the GAC
- SWOSU enters the game following a victory on Saturday against Southern Nazarene while Northwestern was upended at Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday
- The last two games played between the teams, both in Weatherford, were won by SWOSU with an average margin of victory of 24.5
- The previous four games between the teams were decided by a combined total of eight points, including three one-point decisions and an overtime contest
- Each team has an assistant coach who played for the other program: SWOSU's Kris Johnson played at Northwestern from 2004-08 while the Rangers' Jordan Franz played for the Bulldogs from 2011-15
 
The Opponent
Northwestern Oklahoma State (8-13, 8-9 GAC)
- Defeated 80-62 at Southeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday, but they've won five of their last eight games dating back to their January loss in Weatherford
- Currently in a three-way tie for seventh place in the Great American Conference standings with the top eight teams advancing to the GAC Tournament next month in Bartlesville
- Have won five of their last six games at home, with their lone loss being on a buzzer beater by Southern Arkansas on February 4, to improve to 5-5 at home this season
- Averaging 73.1 points per game, the 10th-best scoring average in the GAC while opponents are putting up 75.8 points per game against the Rangers
- Led by Adrian Motley, the fourth-leading scorer in the GAC at 18.1 points per game, who scored a team-high 21 points against SWOSU in Weatherford last month
- Motley is also the fourth-leading rebounder in the league with 7.5 boards per game while NWOSU's Brandon Green is second in the league with 98 assists (4.7/game)
 
The Coaches
SWOSU: Bob Battisti (47-32, 3rd season; 456-328 career, 27th season)
- In his third season as the head coach of the Bulldogs, having led SWOSU to back-to-back winning seasons in his first two years at the helm
- Has coached three players at SWOSU that earned All-GAC distinction, including one GAC Player of the Year and one GAC Defensive Player of the Year
- Previously spent 25 years at Northwestern Oklahoma State, coaching the men's basketball team for 21 seasons before taking over as the school's athletic director
- In 26 years as a head coach, Battisti has a career record of 456-328 (.582) and he is 2-3 against Northwestern Oklahoma State as the head coach at SWOSU
 
Northwestern Oklahoma State: Brad Franz (8-13, 1st season)
- First-year head coach of the Rangers, who returned to coaching after administration stints at both Northwestern Oklahoma State and Otero Junior College in Colorado
- Last coached in 1996 at Otero, where he led their team to an 88-56 record from 1991-96
- Was an assistant at NWOSU under Coach Battisti during the 1990-91 season and he also had coaching stints at UC-Davis, Tulsa and Sheridan Junior College
- Father of former Bulldog Jordan Franz, who played at SWOSU from 2011-15 before graduating last spring and joining the coaching staff at Northwestern Oklahoma State
 
The Series
GAC History Only
      Date                Location                            Score             
      *1/26/2013       Alva, Okla.                        L 75-90
      *2/28/2013       Weatherford, Okla.           W 67-66
      *1/25/2014       Weatherford, Okla.           L 66-67
      *2/27/2014       Alva, Okla.                        L 89-90 (OT)
      *1/22/2015       Alva, Okla.                        L 56-61
      *2/26/2015       Weatherford, Okla.           W 77-46
      *1/18/2016       Weatherford, Okla.           W 90-72
*GAC Conference Meeting
 
Last Time Out
- SWOSU found themselves trailing Southern Nazarene 68-65 with 5:45 to play before closing the game on a 15-7 run to earn an 80-75 victory on Saturday afternoon in Weatherford
- Martell Collins led SWOSU with 26 points, five rebounds and two steals, including a stretch where he scored five straight points after SNU took the lead
- Emeche Wells scored 13 points, his highest-scoring output since January 2nd, and Markeise Champion added 12 points
 
SWOSU Notes
- In the past 10 games, Martell Collins has scored 20 points or more eight times, including his 26-point effort on Saturday against Southern Nazarene
- Collins has taken over the GAC scoring lead as he averages 18.7 points per game for the season and his numbers are better in conference play with 20.3 points per game
- Juwan Newmen had his fifth double-double of the season on Saturday with 10 points and 11 rebounds against SNU, moving him into third in the GAC with 7.9 rebounds per game
- Markeise Champion hit three more three-pointers on Saturday and he's hit at least two three's in all but one game this season, giving him a league-leading 80 for the year (3.5/game)
- Emeche Wells scored 13 points on Saturday, improving his average to 8.8 points per game and he remains the GAC leader with 44 steals (2.2/game)
- Keyshawn Perkins scored six points in 18 minutes on Saturday, tying a season-high which was set twice back in November
- Collin Jennings scored nine points on Saturday, ending his streak of double-digit scoring games at three, but he's averaging 11.8 points per game over the last six outings
- SWOSU had six blocked shots on Saturday, maintaining their claim for second place in the GAC with 93 blocks (4.0/game) on the year
- The Bulldogs have three players ranked among the top ten in the GAC in blocks, led by Ayo Ojo (26: 6th), Newmen (21: 7th) and Wells (14: T-9th)
 
Looking Ahead
- The Bulldogs return home on Thursday evening for Senior Night at the Pioneer Cellular Event Center as SWOSU faces Southeastern Oklahoma State
- Following that contest, the Bulldogs play their final three regular season games on the road beginning on Saturday at Oklahoma Baptist