WEATHERFORD, Okla. – SWOSU Men's Basketball erased an 11-point halftime deficit and had the game within a single possession in the closing minute, but fell just short with an 85-80 loss to Southern Arkansas on Saturday afternoon.
 
It was a tale of two halves for the Bulldogs who shot 27% from the field in the first half and 48% in the second. Trailing by 11 at the break and by 14 points with 8:25 to play in the game, the Bulldogs dug in and never went away quietly.
 
It took SWOSU just two and a half minutes out of the halftime locker room to get the score back even. They trailed 43-32 at the break and opened the second half on a 14-3 run – tying the game back up at 46-46 with 17:29 left to play.
 
SAU extended their lead back out and led 71-57 before the Dawgs again found a way to get back into the game.
 
Five defensive steals during the stretch of another 14-2 run by SWOSU had the score 73-71 with just under four minutes to play. Nate Goodlow capped that run off with a steal and an and-one layup the other way and it felt like momentum was squarely in the hands of the home team.
 
The Muleriders weathered that storm though and calmed things down, halting the ferocious comeback which turned the game into an 'every possession matters' affair down the stretch.  
 
SWOSU trailed by just one point in the final minute of the game thanks to a set play that isolated Ben Smith in the paint for an easy layup, but could not make the needed play to flip the score in their favor after that. They fouled to extend the game but did not get the necessary offense to remain hopeful and ended up falling in a close contest.  
 
Smith led the Dawgs with 18 points on the afternoon and added four rebounds. Kamden Gipson had 16, followed by Mark Berry with 13 and Goodlow with 11.
 
Final shooting numbers had SAU at 46.8% compared to SWOSU's 38.3%. The Muleriders outrebounded SWOSU 45-33 but committed four more turnovers than the home side.
 
The loss drops SWOSU back to 6-6 on the season and 2-4 in GAC play. Southern Arkansas improves to 9-3 and 5-1 in league play.
 
SWOSU hits the road to Arkadelphia next week for games against Ouachita and Henderson State on the typical Thursday and Saturday slate.