| Jan. 11 - vs Henderson State (5-6, 4-2 GAC) |
| 7:30 pm tipoff || Weatherford, Okla. (Pioneer Cellular Event Center) |
| Jan. 13 - vs Ouachita Baptist (4-7, 2-4 GAC) |
| 3:00 pm tipoff || Weatherford, Okla. (Pioneer Cellular Event Center) |
| Click for Full Games Notes (pdf) |
SWOSU Men's Basketball returns home after splitting an Arkansas road trip last week to kick off 2024 and will host Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist on the usual Thursday/Saturday slate.
The Bulldogs are 2-1 at home this year. Both of those wins came against conference opponents, making them a perfect 2-0 in home GAC contests. The Dawgs average 71.0 ppg inside the PCEC. After defeating Southern Arkansas (on the road) 84-72 last Thursday, it improved SWOSU to 3-0 when eclipsing the 70-point scoring mark.
SWOSU and HSU split last season's two matchups. The Bulldogs dropped an 82-76 game at home to the Reddies but beat them 75-70 in Arkadelphia a month prior. The Dawgs are 2-1 in their last three against HSU but before that, held an 11-game losing streak that spanned from 2016-22.
The Reddies feature the GAC's best field goal percentage, shooting nearly 49% from the field through 11 games. They also hold a +3 margin in turnovers, forcing 15.1 per game while committing just 12.0. They feature a balanced attack on offense with four players averaging in double figures.
Meanwhile, Ouachita starts the week winless in five tries away from their home floor. The Tigers are 0-3 in true road games and 0-2 on neutral floors this season. They'll face Northwestern in Alva on Thursday (1/11) before venturing to Weatherford on Saturday.
Ouachita connects on the second most three-point shots per game in the GAC, averaging 9.3 makes per game. They shoot 76% from the foul line, second in the GAC, but have shot the fewest free throw attempts of any team. (105-138)
Both games between SWOSU and Ouachita last season were decided by a single point. SWOSU was 69-68 winners at home and dropped an identical score to the Tigers in Arkadelphia a month prior.
After starting 1-7, SWOSU has won two of its last three GAC games to sit 3-8 overall and an even 3-3 in league play entering the week. The Bulldogs were one defensive stop away from forcing overtime against UAM last Saturday, potentially giving them a three-game winning streak instead.
Numbers prove, the Dawgs are playing solid basketball as of late and have found ways to stay in games using the defensive end of the floor. SWOSU is holding opponents to 42% shooting this season, a percentage that leads the GAC, and have held their last four opponents to under that mark. Against SAU last Thursday, the Muleriders shot 37%. Against UAM on Saturday, the Weevils finished at 41%.
In six GAC games on offense, SWOSU is averaging 65.5 ppg while shooting 44% from the field overall and 31% from three. At the foul line SWOSU is shooting at a 72% clip, currently 84-for-116.
Ben Smith posted back-to-back 20-plus point scoring performances last week for the first time all season. He continues to sit in the top-5 in the league (currently fifth) in scoring at 17.9 points per game while leading the team in rebounding with 6.7 boards per game.
Jalen Johnson, SWOSU's other double-digit scoring contributor at 10.1 ppg, shot just 30% from the field last week on 20 total attempts in a pair of 9-point performances.
Denali Alexander (9.2 ppg) scored 14 points in SWOSU's win over SAU. The Bulldogs are now 3-0 if he scores 14 or more points in a game. He has finished in double figures in each of the last three contests.
Eli Al-Debaran has connected on at least one three-point shot in each of the last five games and was a perfect 4-4 last week from deep. His 34% mark from the three-point line this season is second on the team.
MJ Warrior is tied for seventh in the GAC averaging 3.4 assists per game. He set a new season high against UAM when he dished out six assists.
