After starting the season off 3-0, the SWOSU men’s basketball team has dropped two straight games following an 85-65 loss to Southeastern Oklahoma State Thursday evening at Bloomer Sullivan Arena in Durant.
The Bulldogs got off to a strong start, leading 40-37 at half before falling behind early in the second half. SWOSU was within five with less than 6 minutes to go before Southeastern went on a 15-0 run to end the game, holding SWOSU scoreless for the final 5:35.
SWOSU’s Damion Thornton, 20, Bralyn James. 14, and Chris Braggs Jr., 13, all reached double figures in scoring while Thornton and Livingston Cleare led the team with 7 rebounds apiece, which matched a career-best for Cleare.
OBU 76, SWOSU 74
The SWOSU men’s basketball team dropped their first game of the season in a 2-point loss to Oklahoma Baptist, 76-74 Saturday afternoon at the Pioneer Cellular Event Center.
SWOSU led by as many as eight in the first half, but an 8-0 run by Oklahoma Baptist brought the score to 34-33 heading into half. To start the second, Oklahoma Baptist attempted to pull away, taking the lead on their first possession and going up by as many as nine. The Bulldogs fought back, coming as close as two with three seconds to go, but SWOSU couldn’t get a final shot off, succumbing to the combined 48 points from Oklahoma Baptist’s Harrison Stoddart and Jarius Hicklen.
SWOSU was led by Thornton, who dropped his third double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Thornton was joined in double figures by Tauriawn Knight, 16 points, James, 10 points, and Braggs, Jr., 14 points, who had double-digits for the fourth straight game prior to fouling out.
This losses drop the Bulldogs to 3-2 on the season heading into a home matchup with East Central – who SWOSU defeated 99-87 to open the season –Saturday back home at the Pioneer Cellular Event Center.