WEATHERFORD – SWOSU Men's Basketball pushed No. 23-ranked Oklahoma Baptist for a full 40 minutes Thursday night but ultimately came up short in a 78-74 loss to the Bison.
 
Both teams came out firing in the first half, trading baskets early while shooting 50% or better through the opening seven minutes. SWOSU held a 15-14 edge at the 13:31 mark before Oklahoma Baptist responded with a 14-3 run to build a 28-18 lead heading into the final media timeout. The Bulldogs closed the half with momentum, trimming the deficit to 34-31 at the break on a buzzer-beating layup by Kayden Carter.
 
SWOSU cooled slightly from the field in the opening half, finishing 12-for-31 (38%). Oklahoma Baptist shot 14-for-31 (45%) and held a slim rebounding edge at 20-17, while also committing one fewer turnover, 5-4.
 
The second half opened with another back-and-forth stretch before an 8-0 Oklahoma Baptist run midway through the period pushed the lead back to double digits at 60-50 with 7:31 remaining. Out of a timeout, SWOSU responded as a Spencer Musgrove three-pointer and a Tobias Roland and-one layup cut the deficit back to four. The Bison answered once again, stretching the margin back to double figures moments later.
 
Trailing 67-56 with five minutes to play, the Bulldogs refused to fold. SWOSU rattled off a 10-0 run of its own to pull within a single possession heading into the final two minutes. The Bulldogs were unable to secure stops on their next two defensive possessions, however, allowing Oklahoma Baptist to rebuild a small cushion and hang on down the stretch.
 
For the game, SWOSU shot 39% from the field after nearly identical shooting halves. The Bulldogs knocked down 11 three-pointers, their second-most as a team this season, finishing 11-for-30 from beyond the arc. Oklahoma Baptist shot nearly 52% in the second half and 48% for the game, going 5-of-16 from three-point range and 11-for-18 at the foul line. SWOSU finished 13-of-18 from the stripe.
 
The Bulldogs were outrebounded 44-37 and narrowly lost the turnover battle, 11-9. Oklahoma Baptist also controlled the paint, outscoring SWOSU 42-20 inside.
 
Tobias Roland led the Bulldogs with a season-high 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, adding six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Ty Frierson followed closely with 17 points and six assists, while Spencer Musgrove chipped in 13 points. Kayden Carter rounded out the scoring leaders with 10 points, all in the first half, marking his fourth straight game in double figures.
 
OBU was led by Terry Coner Jr. who poured in 26 points in the contest. It's the most an opposing player has totaled against the Dawgs this season.
 
SWOSU (3-6, 0-3 GAC) will continue its search for a first conference win Saturday, heading back on the road to face a second straight ranked opponent in No. 5-ranked Southern Nazarene at 3:00 p.m. in Bethany.