Bulldogs Keep Tourny Hope Alive

February 18, 2006

Weatherford, OK - Southwestern Oklahoma Stat kept its recent mastery of Northeastern State going and in the process jumped back into the race for a Lone Star Conference tournament berth with an easy 71-58 victory Saturday in Weatherford.

Jon Gunn had 16 points and SWOSU won for the sixth straight time over the Redmen, improving its record to 8-17 overall. The win also lifted the Bulldogs into a three-way tie with East Central and Texas A&M-Commerce for third place in the LSC North standings. All three teams are at 5-5. The top four teams in each division advance to the league’s post-season tournament.

SWOSU shot well making 30-of-57 (51%) from the field and forced the normally careful Redmen into 16 turnovers.

The Bulldogs were up by 10 early when Reggie Gunn kocked down a three-pointer to give SWOSU a 22-12 lead with 7:53 to play in the first half. Gunn, who had 13 points, was one of three other players who scored in double figures for the Bulldogs.

Lonnie Cooks had 11 and Michael Sampson had 10 points to complete SWOSU’s double-figure scoring.

SWOSU turned a seven-point halftime lead into a much safer margin, leading by 20 points on two separate occasions. Cooks’ layup with with 8:22 to play was the first and gave the Bulldogs a 58-38 lead.

NSU, which fell to 14-11 and 4-6 in the division, was led by Sid Melvin with 11 points.

SWOSU continues division play Monday at Cameron University and will conclude the regular-season with an important showdown with Texas A&M-Commerce Saturday in Weatherford. Tipoff for the Cameron game is at 8 p.m. with the home game against TAMC, set for 3 p.m.