WEATHERFORD – Looking to shake off last week's two losses, SWOSU Men's Basketball returns home to host Arkansas Tech and Harding this week as the regular season inches to a close.
With four games remaining on the schedule, the Bulldogs sit 8-10 in the GAC in a tie for sixth place with Southern Nazarene. Another three teams sit one game behind SWOSU with 7-11 records. Both games this week come against teams who are ahead of the Dawgs in the standings.
Last week, SWOSU fell to Northwestern 78-72 in Alva before getting blitzed 84-52 by Southeastern. It was just the second time this conference season the Bulldogs dropped both games on the week.
SWOSU plays in the friendly confines of the Pioneer Cellular Event Center in three out of the final four games left on the schedule. The first two come this Thursday and Saturday, against Arkansas Tech and Harding – two opponents SWOSU has previously lost to.
The Bulldogs fell 60-56 to Harding in Searcy on January 18 after shooting a season low 30% from the field as a team. Against Tech two days later SWOSU bounced back to shoot, at the time, a new season high shooting percentage of 54% but it was overshadowed by the Wonder Boys finished at 57% – a SWOSU opponent season high. The Dawgs went on to fall 82-74 in Russellville, the only other time this season the Bulldogs dropped both GAC games played in the week.
Tech enters Thursday's matchup winners of their last three games and four of their last five with an 18-6 overall record and a 14-4 mark in the GAC. They sit one game behind Southeastern for the top spot in the conference and very much still in contention for a regular season conference championship.
The Wonder Boys are averaging 74.8 points per game (5th, GAC), shoot 47% from the field (2nd, GAC), and lead the league with a 40% mark from the three-point line. The offensive numbers have been strong, but on defense they've had similar success. They hold opponents to 66.2 points per game and 43% from the field – both of which league the league defensively. They also sit second in the league in both turnover margin, +1.83, and assist/turnover ratio, 1.24.
SWOSU is 5-6 against Arkansas Tech at home since playing in the GAC but have won the past three meeting against them in Weatherford dating back to 2020.
Meanwhile, the Bisons have been playing good ball down the stretch. They're 7-3 since facing the Bulldogs back in January. Harding will battle Northwestern on Thursday before visiting the Bulldogs on Saturday. They're scoring 75.5 points per game (4th, GAC), shoot 46% from the field (6th, GAC), and 38% from the three-point line (2nd, GAC). Defensively, Harding ranks 11th in the league in both points allowed, 78.1 ppg, and opponent field goal percentage, 47%.
SWOSU is also 5-6 against Harding at home since competing against the Bisons in the GAC.
After this week's action, just two games will remain on the regular season slate. SWOSU will host East Central next Thursday (2/29) before closing out the schedule on the road against Southern Nazarene on March 2.
