Box Score (html)
SHAWNEE, Okla. – Despite a combined 60 points from
Charles Beauregard, Jr. and
Devin Pugh and a season high scoring effort by the team, SWOSU Men's Basketball came up short against Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday in Shawnee by a final score of 104-96.
In similar fashion to multiple games this season, the Bulldogs trailed early before getting hot and storming back into the game in the second half. Heading into halftime, SWOSU found themselves down 12 after shooting just 37.9% in the game's first 20 minutes. The Bulldogs trailed by as many as 17 in the half, but had it near the double digit mark as the first half came to an end – well within striking distance.
In the second half, the offense exploded for more than half of one hundred points and nearly 60% shooting as a team to get back into the game. The problem was, the defense couldn't slow down the Oklahoma Baptist offense who went on to outscore the Dawgs in the half and hang 104 points on SWOSU on the afternoon for the most points the Bulldogs have allowed all season.
SWOSU led by two with 4:05 left in the game following a made three-point bucket from
Charles Beauregard, Jr., but made Bison free throws out of the media timeout knotted the game back up and erased the Bulldog lead. An eventual 6-0 run by OBU allowed the Bison to regain their lead and hold on the momentum of the game, and never relinquished either back over to SWOSU the rest of the way.
Beauregard finished with a season and career best 31 points, followed narrowly by Pugh who had 29 points and ended just one point shy of tying his career best scoring number.
Nick Shoemaker pitched in 11, while both
Luke Lewallen and
Cooper Battisti each gave their best scoring efforts of the season with 10 points apiece.
As a team, SWOSU shot 49.2% overall through both halves while OBU finished at 50.9%. Both teams knocked down nine three-point shots, but a key difference came at the free throw line where the Bison shot 46 foul shots (41-for-46, 89.1%) compared to SWOSU's 28 on the afternoon (25-for-28, 89.3%).
The Bulldogs will continue on the road next week when they trek to Arkadelphia, Arkansas to take on Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist on Thursday and Saturday.
