Men Complete UCO Series Sweep
December 6, 2011
Southwestern Oklahoma State University beats the Bronchos for the second time this season with a 75-67 victory in a men's basketball game Tuesday in Weatherford.
Ryan Donahoe heads for a score in SWOSU's win against UCO.
WEATHERFORD, Okla. --- Southwestern Oklahoma State University celebrated a hard-earned season sweep over rival Central Oklahoma with a 75-67 victory in a men’s basketball game Tuesday night in Weatherford. SWOSU had beaten UCO 76-70 earlier last month in Edmond.
The series sweep was SWOSU’s first over the Bronchos since the 2001-02 season and improved the Bulldogs overall record to 6-1 on the year. UCO fell to 7-4.
Thomas Davis scored 18 points and Marin Zelalija added 16 as the Bulldogs pulled away after what had been a close contest for the game’s first 30 minutes. The game was tied eight different times and saw six different lead changes in that time frame.
SWOSU used a 16-3 run over a four minute span in the second half to grab control. The Bulldogs trailed 45-42 before Zelalija got hot. He hit back-to-back-to-back three-pointers over a two-minute span that pushed the Bulldogs to the front. His third gave SWOSU a 55-48 lead with 9:10 to play. The margin become double digits when Filip Toric splashed home a long-range bomb to put the Bulldogs up 58-48 with 8:24 to play.
UCO rallied to close within one-point in the final moments. Shane Carroll’s basket cut SWOSU’s lead to 67-66 with 1:30 to play. The Bronchos had other opportunities to either tie or take the lead but misfired on four of their five final free throws in the closing 60 seconds.
SWOSU ended scoring the game’s final six points the last of which came on an emphatic dunk by Davis at the buzzer.
SWOSU also got double figure scoring by Ryan Donahoe, Chase Elliott and Toric who each had 13 points.
The Bulldogs ended up making 23-of-49 shots for 47% and where six-for-20 from three-point distance for 30%. The Bulldogs were near perfect at the free throw line making 23-of-26 attempts for 88%.
UCO, which was led by Tyler Phillips with 14 points, made 44% of their field goal attempts, connecting on 21-of-48.
SWOSU won the rebound battle 32-29. Elliott, Davis and Toric each shared top honors with seven for SWOSU. UCO’s Brent Friday led all players with 10.
SWOSU will conclude its fall semester of play with a road game next week at Northeastern State University.
