WEATHERFORD, Okla. – It might not have been pretty or easy, but SWOSU Men's Basketball found a way to take down a strong Arkansas Tech team 79-71 in overtime to win their second conference game of the week. The Wonder Boys entered Thursday tied for second in the conference standings but were bested by the Bulldogs who were seeking a signature win in a hunt for postseason contention and got it.
Chris Braggs, Jr. finished with a career high 30 points to help push SWOSU to the finish line. He's now scored 18, 18, and 30 his last three games – all of which were career highs at the time.
Both sides had trouble at the foul line, but both sides visited there often in a game that proved to be very physical. SWOSU finished 25-of-44, while Tech was 21-for-33. Those were season highs in attempts from each team.
In a game that featured 17 lead changes and 17 ties, it was only fitting that both the first half and second half had identical score totals from both sides. The teams were knotted at 39-39 at halftime and 68-68 at the end of regulation. SWOSU tightened the defense in overtime however, and held Tech to just three points in the game's final extra five minutes.
SWOSU nearly didn't get the result they wanted on the night with the game in balance at the end of regulation though. Tech had the ball with the score tied as the time ticked down to zero, but the defense was able to avoid a made basket or foul call that would have spoiled the night. Instead, the defense found a way and the game continued into overtime.
Leading by one point in the extra time with a little over one minute to play, three pointers from Nate Goodlow and Kamden Gipson on back-to-back possessions delivered the final blow.
Both sides showed similar numbers offensively, but the stat of the game was turnovers. SWOSU forced the Wonder Boys into 20 wasted possessions that proved to be the difference maker.
Outside of Braggs, the Dawgs got 12 points apiece from Gipson and Goodlow and 10 from Mark Berry.
The win moves SWOSU back to 9-9 on the season overall and gives them their fifth conference victory. The Dawgs sit tied in what would-be the eighth and final postseason spot with plenty of basketball left to be played.
The four-game homestand concludes this Saturday when Harding comes to Weatherford. SWOSU was tripped up by the Bisons last year and will look to avoid that coming up.
