Setting the Scene
- Bulldog Basketball heads to Alva on Thursday evening for a rivalry matchup with the Rangers of Northwestern Oklahoma State
- Both teams are seeking a victory that could help jump start a second-half push up the standings in the Great American Conference, with SWOSU still in search of their first conference victory of the season
- SWOSU is 0-6 in Alva since Northwestern joined the GAC for the 2012-13 season and they've lost their last eight regular season contests at Percefull Fieldhouse, dating back to a 75-66 victory over the Rangers on February 14, 1996
- This will be the first rivalry contest for Terry Evans as the head coach of the Bulldogs, but was 2-0 against the Rangers while serving as the head coach at Central Oklahoma
 
About the Opponent
Northwestern Okla. (3-11, 1-7 GAC)
- The Rangers have dropped four straight conference games since picking up a 94-90 overtime win over Emporia State on December 30th
- Northwestern is the lowest-scoring team in the GAC, putting up 70.5 points per game while allowing 76.9 points per to their opponents
- Leading the way for the Rangers is post Treyvon Andres, who is averaging team bests of 14.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game while ranking second in the GAC with 23 blocked shots
- Head coach Shawn Dirden is in his third season leading the Rangers, who he led to a record of 22-7 last season
 
The Series (Since 1990)

Date	Location	Score
1/31/90	Weatherford	W, 66-65
2/21/90	Alva	L, 67-74
1/23/91	Weatherford	W, 82-77
2/13/91	Alva	L, 59-75
1/22/92	Weatherford	L, 77-80
2/12/92	Alva	L, 69-71
3/6/92	Alva	L, 54-70
1/20/93	Alva	L, 67-79
2/10/93	Weatherford	L, 65-73
1/19/94	Weatherford	W, 57-53
2/9/94	Alva	L, 62-89
1/21/95	Weatherford	W, 64-58
2/18/95	Alva	W, 73-65
1/17/96	Weatherford	L, 57-67
2/14/96	Alva	W, 75-66
1/27/97	Weatherford	L, 65-72
2/22/97	Alva	L, 61-73
3/3/98	Alva	L, 77-97
11/12/11	Weatherford	W, 90-77
1/26/13	Alva	L, 75-90
2/28/13	Weatherford	W, 67-66
1/25/14	Weatherford	L, 66-67
2/27/14	Alva	L, 90-89 (OT)
1/22/15	Alva	L, 56-61
2/26/15	Weatherford	W, 77-46
1/18/16	Weatherford	W, 90-72
2/15/16	Alva	L, 55-85
1/16/17	Alva	L, 75-86
2/13/17	Weatherford	W, 73-67
1/15/18	Weatherford	L, 82-84
2/19/18	Alva	L, 77-86
All-Time: SWOSU Leads 111-71
NCAA Division II Era: NWOSU Leads 8-5
In Weatherford: SWOSU Leads 5-2
In Alva: NWOSU Leads 6-0

 
SWOSU Notes
- The Bulldogs have been held to fewer than 70 points in three of their last four games, a feat that had not happened in any of the first 10 games of the season
- Daniel Eibel matched his career-high and led SWOSU with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting from three-point range against Henderson State, his third double-figure scoring outing in the past four games
- Nick Shoemaker continued his hot shooting by making 4-of-7 three-point attempts against Henderson State, giving him 16 made three pointers in the Bulldogs' last five games
- Against HSU, Shoemaker moved into sole possession of second place on SWOSU's all-time three-pointers list with 180, which is now just two behind Clarke Hale (182; 2006-09) for the top spot
- After scoring 20 or more points in seven of his first eight games this season, Tre Evans has been held under 20 in four of the last five outings, including a season-low six points on 1-for-8 shooting at Henderson State
- Evans remains the leading scorer in the conference with 22.9 points per game while also leading the Bulldogs with 6.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game
- Kamden Gipson set new career-bests with six rebounds and eight assists in 28 minutes of action against Henderson State on Saturday
- Jefkins Agyeman-Budu averaged 8.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in the Bulldogs two-game road trip to Arkansas last weekend, connecting on 4-of-7 field goal attempts and 8-of-11 free throws
- Luke Lewallen snapped a two-game scoreless streak by posting eight points and six rebounds in 16 minutes against HSU
 
Looking Ahead
- On Saturday, the Bulldogs are back on the road for another in-state rivalry contest as they conclude their season series against Southeastern Oklahoma State in Durant
- SWOSU returns home to the Pioneer Cellular Event Center next week for conference contests against Arkansas Tech on Thursday and Harding on Saturday