| Jan. 25 - vs Northwestern (8-8, 6-4 GAC) |
| 7:30 pm tipoff || Weatherford, Okla. (PCEC) |
| Jan. 27 - vs Oklahoma Baptist (7-9, 4-6 GAC) |
| 3:00 pm tipoff || Weatherford, Okla. (PCEC) |
| Click here for GAME NOTES (pdf) |
Men's Hoops returns to the Pioneer Cellular Event Center this week to wrap up the first half of conference action. Thursday's matchup against Northwestern will do just that, as the Rangers are the only league team the Bulldogs have not yet faced this season. Saturday, Oklahoma Baptist will come to town where SWOSU will seek to avenge a previous 63-52 loss to the Bison back in November.
The Bulldogs took a two-game GAC winning streak to Arkansas last week but came away with a pair of tightly contested losses against Harding and league-leading Arkansas Tech. They'll be looking to rebound back at home where SWOSU has fared far better than on the road. The Dawgs are a 4-1 in Weatherford this year and have not dropped a home conference game in four tries.
NWOSU makes the trek south on rivalry Thursday. The Rangers enter the contest an even 8-8 on the year and in third place in the GAC with a 6-4 mark. They too played Harding and Tech last week where they stole one against the Wonder Boys on Thursday before falling to the Bisons on Saturday. The Rangers hold the best turnover margin in the conference with 2.69 more than their opponent per contest. They rank second in the GAC in both blocked shots, 3.81 bpg, and steals, 7.75 spg.
Since facing NWOSU in the GAC, the Bulldogs are 7-4 against them in Weatherford.
Oklahoma Baptist hosts Southern Nazarene on Thursday before making the trip to Weatherford Saturday. The Bison dropped both league games last week and are 2-4 in road conference games this season. They are the league's top rebounding team, averaging 41.2 per game including 13.8 offensive boards per game. SWOSU is 2-7 against OKB in Weatherford since the Bison began competing in the GAC in 2016. The last victory at home vs them came February 8, 2020.
The Bulldogs enter the midway point of the GAC season in a log jam for fourth place in the standings. SWOSU sits tied for fourth with four other teams with a 5-5 record in conference contests.
Games in Weatherford have typically meant more points for the Bulldog offense. SWOSU is averaging just under 78 points in four GAC games (all wins) inside the PCEC. On the road that number falls to under 63 ppg in six games where the Bulldogs are 1-5. SWOSU's scoring number is 75. They are 4-0 this season when scoring 75 or more and all of those have come at home.
Regardless of result, the Dawgs have proven more times than not they'll be in the game for all 40 minutes thanks to a defense that is holding opponents to a league low 42% shooting while also limiting offenses to 70.1 points per game. (4th, GAC)
SWOSU is coming off a tale of two games last week. They shot a season low 30% against Harding before shooting a season best 54% against Tech just two days later.
Mark Berry had his streak of three straight double-doubles snapped last Saturday against ATU. He has scored in double figures in four straight games and is sixth in the GAC with a 56% field goal percentage.
Ben Smith continues to lead the SWOSU offense. He's averaging 19.1 points per game in 10 GAC contests and is fifth in the league in scoring overall.
Jacore Williams is providing efficiency off the bench as of late. He's notched double figure scoring in four straight games and has done so with a 63% field goal percentage during that stretch.
Mason Hart grabbed a career high eight rebounds last week against Harding and followed it up with a season high nine points at Tech.
