BETHANY — Entering today, the SWOSU men’s basketball team hadn’t defeated Southern Nazarene in Bethany since 2014, until Thursday.
The Bulldogs ended that 8-game skid and started a new streak, leaving the Sawyer Center with a 76-69 win against the Crimson Storm.
The Bulldogs got down early, but a 6-0 run brought the Bulldogs within four before they really upped the defensive intensity. Later in the half, the Bulldogs went on an 8- 0 run to give them a 34-32 lead heading into half.
SWOSU exploded out of the gates in the second, quickly going up 47-35. SNU fought back throughout the game but senior Bralyn James came up big with a tough and-1 and a deep three with 1:55 to go to put the game out of reach and give the Bulldogs their first win in their last nine contests against SNU.
Damion Thornton, who is second in NCAA Division II basketball in rebounds per game, led the Bulldogs with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 4 steals. Thornton was joined in double figures by James, 18, and Chris Braggs Jr., 13. SWOSU was outrebounded 33-51 in the game but made up for it by forcing 18 turnovers and beating SNU in points off turnovers, 28-3.
“They are a good team. They have championship culture. We knew it would be a dog fight,” coach Terry Evans said. “This is the kind of game that we lost last year but we took care of business and we won it tonight.”
SWOSU takes its 3-0 record back home for a matchup today against Oklahoma Baptist, who is 1-3, back home at the Pioneer Cellular Event Center.