WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Damion Thornton broke SWOSU's NCAA Division II scoring record for career points on Thursday night in a 70-67 victory over Southern Arkansas.
 
Coming into Thursday, Thornton needed 24 points to break the previous record of 1,055 points and he ended up with 30 on the night. He passes Clarke Hale (2006-09) on SWOSU's all-time Division II scoring list.
 
Aside from impressive individual accolades, the Bulldogs have now won their last four conference games and are 6-5 in the league.
 
SWOSU's defense held the Muleriders to 34% shooting on the night and finished just under 40% themselves.
 
Though the first half was low scoring, it featured an up-and-down pace from both sides. At the break, the score was knotted at 30-30.
 
The Dawgs continually found themselves getting into the paint and to the foul line, and especially in the second half. It also appeared to be the difference maker.
 
In the second half alone, SWOSU got to the line 26 times and knocked down 19 of them. For the game, the Dawgs finished 25-for-34, compared to 13-for-17 from SAU.
 
Thornton was the provider all night in the scoring category, but it was Jaylan Williams who connected on clutch back-to-back three pointers with just under three minutes left to play that pushed SWOSU's lead to 69-61. His shots were part of a 12-3 run for the Dawgs that gave them the cushion they needed heading into closing time.
 
SAU made things interesting by scoring the next six points, but a foul shot to make the margin three points and a pair of defensive stops allowed SWOSU to hold on.  
 
Williams finished with 13 points in the game, followed by Kamden Gipson who had 12 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
 
Thornton shot 9-for-14 from the field overall and 12-of-17 from the free throw line. He also finished one rebound shy of a double-double.
 
Now above the .500 mark in conference play, SWOSU sits tied for fifth in the standings with the second half of the GAC season beginning.
 
They will host Arkansas Monticello on Saturday (Jan. 29) at 3pm in attempts to push the win streak to five.