Bulldog Rally Falls Short Against SOSU

January 23, 2006

Weatherford, OK - Southwestern Oklahoma State rode the hot shooting hand of Reggie Gunn and Lonnie Cooks but could not overcome the solid play of Southeastern Oklahoma State and fell 76-69 in a men’s basketball game Saturday in Weatherford.

Gunn (6-2, Jr., G, Okolona, Miss.) scored a season-high 27 points and led a determined effort in which the Bulldogs stormed back from a 20-point deficit only to have the clock end their rally. SWOSU managed to cut SOSU’s lead to under double-figures with 1:18 to play when Gunn buried a three-pointer to bring the Bulldogs to within nine at 73-62.

SOSU managed to make enough free throws down the stretch and never allowed the Bulldogs to get any closer than six points the rest of the way.

SWOSU scored a season-best 50 points in the second half while making an amazing 12 three-pointers in the final 20 minutes. The Bulldogs finished sinking 14-of-33 (43%) from three-point distance. Gunn was seven-of-12 from three-point distance while Cooks (5-10, Sr., G, Fort Worth, Texas) finished with 19 points, canning five three-pointers.

The loss was SWOSU’s fourth straight and dropped its record to 3-14 and 0-2 in the Lone Star Conference North Division.

SOSU, which was led by Eric Babers with 22 points, improved to 10-6 overall and 2-0 in division play.

The Bulldogs will next play Wednesday at home against the University of Central Oklahoma. Tipoff for the men’s game will be around 8 p.m.