WEATHERFORD – SWOSU Men's Basketball capped a perfect 2-0 week Saturday afternoon, erupting for a season-high 94 points in a 94-83 win over Harding inside the Pioneer Event Center.
In a game defined by momentum swings — particularly after halftime — it was the Bulldogs who delivered the final and most decisive run. SWOSU finished with season bests in scoring (94 points), field goal percentage (55%), and tied its season high with 13 made three-pointers to pull away from the Bisons.
SWOSU began to seize control late in the first half, using a 15-2 run to turn a tight contest into a 35-28 Bulldog lead with 1:22 remaining. That surge was fueled by defensive pressure, as SWOSU forced 10 Harding turnovers in the opening half while committing just four of its own, leading to a 13-2 advantage in points off turnovers. A late Harding three-pointer trimmed the margin to 35-31 at halftime.
The second half turned into a shootout featuring big runs on both sides. SWOSU opened the half with a 14-3 burst to build a double-digit 49-39 lead, only to see Harding respond with a 10-1 run to cut the margin to one at 50-49 with 11:34 to play. The Bulldogs answered once more, rattling off an 11-2 run to stretch the lead to 70-59 with 7:46 remaining — the spurt that finally provided enough separation to close out the game.
Both teams lit it up after the break, combining for 18 three-pointers and scoring more than 50 points apiece in the second half.
Ty Frierson and
Kray Rogers powered the surge, combining for 43 second-half points. Frierson poured in a season-high 33 points, added six assists, and recorded three steals. Rogers followed with a season-high 22 points, knocking down 6-of-8 shots from beyond the arc for his best three-point performance of the season.
Kayden Carter finished with 12 points, 11 of which came in the first half as he helped establish SWOSU's presence in the paint early.
Elijah Jordan chipped in seven points and pulled down a team-high five rebounds.
SWOSU finished the game 13-of-24 from three-point range and 17-of-23 at the free-throw line. Harding also shot well, finishing at 50% from the field, 15-of-34 from deep, and 16-of-20 at the stripe, but the Bulldogs' offensive explosion proved too much to overcome.
SWOSU committed just seven turnovers, matching a season low, and forced 14 Harding miscues. The two teams finished even on the glass with 29 rebounds apiece.
With the win, SWOSU improves to 8-11 overall and 5-8 in Great American Conference play. The Bulldogs will hit the road next week for a pair of conference matchups in Arkansas, facing Ouachita Baptist on Thursday and Henderson State on Saturday.
