Men Upend SAU, 63-56
January 21, 2012
Southwestern Oklahoma State University improves to 10-5 overall and now will begin a two-game homestand with instate rivals East Central and Southeastern Oklahoma beginning Monday in Weatherford.
MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southwestern Oklahoma State University secured an important road victory with a 63-56 win over Southern Arkansas Saturday in Magnolia, Ark. The win upped SWOSU’s overall record to 10-5 and bettered their league mark in the Great American Conference to 2-4.
The Bulldogs will have a chance to square their GAC mark as they host East Central and Southeastern Oklahoma next week in games played in Weatherford.
Zack Howe and Dominick Cornelius each scored 12 points as the Bulldogs came up big in the game’s final minutes. Howe scored five straight points including a three-pointer with 2:54 to play putting the Bulldogs in front 56-52. He then added a layup and SWOSU’s lead was 58-52 with 2:01 remaining.
The Mule Riders, who dropped to 10-7 and 3-2 in league play, did not go away quietly. Shumeecio Lark hit two free throws to bring SAU to within four. Filip Toric put the game with a short jumper with just over a minute to play to give SWOSU breathing room.
SWOSU sweated out the finish but the game was in their favor much of the duration. SWOSU was up 43-30 with 16:19 to play after Howe hit two free throws. SAU then scored the next 13 points and tied it at 43-43 when Lark hit a basket with 9:50 to play.
SAU led only once in the final nine minutes but it was quickly erased when Toric tied the game at 47-47 with a free throw.
SWOSU also got double figure scoring from Thomas Davis with 11 and Ryan Donahoe with 10.
The Bulldogs made 44% of their shots connecting on 20-of-45 attempts. SWOSU was just five-of-19 from three-point distance for 26% but were solid at the line making 78% of their 23 attempts.
SAU had a difficult time overcoming SWOSU’s pressure defense. The ‘Riders made just 18-of-53 attem[ts for 34% and were even worse two-of-14 from three-point distance for 14%.
SWOSU had five more rebounds (35-30). Davis had eight rebounds to lead both teams.
