WEATHERFORD, Okla. – SWOSU Men's Basketball wraps up its four-game homestand with a pair of Arkansas opponents this week. The Bulldogs will host Arkansas Tech on Thursday before turning around for a Saturday afternoon affair with Harding.
 
With a win over Northwestern on Monday, the Bulldogs have a chance to win consecutive conference games for the first time this season. SWOSU currently sits tied for the eighth spot in the GAC standings and remain in a battle for postseason contention.
 
Bulldog Notes

• SWOSU added a third double-digit scorer to the season stats with Chris Braggs, Jr. entering that list. He has scored a season high 18 point in back-to-back games and is coming off a career scoring milestone last week which saw him surpass 1,000 career points
• Kamden Gipson (12.8 ppg) continued his streak of three-point shooting with the team's only two three-point makes against Northwestern. He has made at least one three-point shot in every game this season and ranks third in the conference averaging 2.8 makes per game
• Mark Berry has put together a nice stretch that past four games. During that time he's averaged 10.75 points per game which has included a pair of double-digit totals. Against Northwestern on Monday, his 15 points set a new career high
• SWOSU's leading scorer, Ben Smith, has notched 20+ points three times this season with his latest coming last week against Southeastern. He's eclipsed double digits in every conference game but one so far this season
• The Dawgs regained focus at the free throw line against Northwestern on Monday, finishing the game at 75.7% from the stripe. That percentage ties for second best on the season. SWOSU also tied season highs for makes (28) and attempts (37) against the Rangers. They have only shot 70% or better in consecutive games one time this season against Cameron & Drury
• Getting to the foul line is an easy recipe for success for SWOSU if they can consistently knock them down. The Dawgs hade shot nearly 100 more free throws than Oklahoma Baptist – who has shot the second most foul shots in the GAC (SWOSU: 258-for-422 / OBU: 233-for-328)
• As a team, SWOSU ranks in the top portion of the following conference stats entering the Thursday/Saturday slate:
  • 4th – 75.2 points per game
  • 1st – 37.8 rebounds per game
  • 2nd – +2.94 turnover margin
  • 3rd – 3.29 blocked shots per game
  • 4th – 8.71 steals per game

Scouting Arkansas Tech
With a defensive style of basketball, the Wonder Boys are firmly at the top portion of the GAC standings, tied for second with a 9-2 record in conference play. They hold opponents to well under 70 points per game and rank towards the top of nearly every defensive statistic in the league. SWOSU is just 1-9 against Arkansas Tech in Russellville since the beginning of the GAC. The good news is that win came last season in a 77-75 overtime affair.  
 
**Conference rankings/stats as of 1/25
 
Wonder Boys Offense
66.5 Points Per Game (11th in GAC)
43.5% FG Percentage (11th)
27.1% 3-Point FG Percentage (12th)
64.5% FT Percentage (11th)
34.4 Team Rebounding (6th)
 
Wonder Boys Defense
63.5 Points Per Game (2nd)
41.4% Opponent FG Percentage (3rd)
34.3% Opponent 3-Point FG Percentage (7th)
33.4 Opponent Team Rebounding (6th)
 
Scouting Harding
SWOSU is 4-6 against the Bisons in Searcy since the formation of the GAC and have been winners in their last four tries there. Last season, Harding did trip the Dawgs up in Weatherford though – handing them an 82-72 loss.  
 
**Conference rankings/stats as of 1/25
 
Bisons Offense
72.1 Points Per Game (7th in GAC)
45.3% FG Percentage (7th)
31.2% 3-Point FG Percentage (10th)
74.1% FT Percentage (4th)
34.5 Team Rebounding (5th)
 
Bisons Defense
75.9 Points Per Game (9th)
46.3% Opponent FG Percentage (10th)
34.2% Opponent 3-Point FG Percentage (6th)
35.4 Opponent Team Rebounding (10th)