Box Score (html)
WEATHERFORD, Okla. – SWOSU Men's Basketball tied a single-game school record with 18 made three-point baskets on Thursday night against Ouachita, but the Tigers were given a lifeline with 1:11 to play and escaped from the Pioneer Cellular Event Center with an 88-85 victory.
In a game that featured 19 lead changes and 15 ties, the score was tied for the last time at 82-all after an acrobatic lay-in from
Devin Pugh with 1:12 to play. As the ball went through the basket, SWOSU's
Collin Jennings was shoved under the basket by a Ouachita player and as he turned to head back on defense he made contact with the Tiger, who then fell to the ground. The contact, albeit minimal, was enough for Jennings to be whistled for a technical foul, giving Ouachita two free throws and possession of the ball with 1:09 to play.
Ouachita cashed in their free points, but SWOSU's defense held on the next possession to give the Dawgs a chance to tie or take the lead. SWOSU's next sequence was a one-on-one play from
Markeise Champion, who was off the mark on a step-back three-pointer that Ouachita grabbed the rebound of. The Tigers made two free throws with 10 seconds to play, going up 86-82 before
Devin Pugh dropped his sixth three-pointer of the night with four seconds to play to make it a one-point game.
The Tigers knocked down two more pressure free throws with two seconds on the clock and SWOSU threw the ball into the front court and called timeout with 1.6 seconds showing on the clock. After each team spent a timeout, SWOSU got the ball in the hands of
Geoffery Hightower, who launched a deep three-pointer that came off the back of the iron and ended the game.
The setback came on a night when the Bulldogs connected on 18-of-38 (47.4%) three-point attempts, tying the single-game school record, which was accomplished twice during the 2006-07 season. SWOSU also hit 47.3% (26-of-55) of their field-goal attempts on the night while knocking down 15-of-20 (75%) free throws.
Leading the way for SWOSU was
Devin Pugh, who hit 6-of-11 three-point attempts and finished with a career-high 30 points. He was joined in double figures by
Markeise Champion, who had 14 points, and
Geoffery Hightower, who totaled 12.
SWOSU (6-21, 3-18 GAC) concludes the 2016-17 season on Saturday afternoon, facing Henderson State on Senior Day.
