Bulldogs Raise Record to 7-0

December 5, 2006

CHICKASHA, OK – Fortunate. Charmed. Lucky. People might be calling the Southwestern men’s basketball team all of these words right now but one term seems do it best – winners.

Coach Todd Thurman and his gutsy Bulldogs again took another haymaker to the jaw but somehow dug up reserve enough and fought back to subdue a determined Science and Arts team for an 82-81 victory Tuesday night in Chickasha. The victory was SWOSU’s seventh straight and kept them unbeaten through the young basketball season.

Clarke Hale scored 17 points and Othello Alford drained a pair of clutch jumpers down the stretch as the Bulldogs survived a game that featured 14 lead changes and eight ties.

Alford hit consecutive baskets including a back-breaking three-pointer that put the Bulldogs ahead 81-77 with 1:44 to play. The Drovers charged back and scored twice when Thomas Woods had a tightly contested basket and then later tipped in a miss shot to trim SWOSU’s lead to 82-81.

USAO had one final shot to win but Stan Bolden’s shot with four seconds to play clanked off the rim and both teams engaged in a scramble for the rebound as the horn sounded. SWOSU players raised their arms in the air and joyfully celebrated their latest victory.

“This was a tough one,” a visibly relieved Thurman said. “We knew USAO would come out strong, and I thought we matched their energy early. We might have gotten wore down in the second half, but we regrouped, made the plays and got a defensive stop when we needed it the most.”

Just as it has all season, SWSOU spread the scoring load around with five players reaching double figures. In addition to Hale’s 17 points, he was joined by Reggie Gunn with 14, Marcus Millender and Alford with 12 and Nate Perry with 10.

SWOSU continued to display expert marksmanship from the floor knocking down 31-of-55 shots for a sizzling 55%. USAO, which was winless in five previous matches, played its best basketball of the season making 56% of its shots and out rebounding the Bulldogs 28-23.

SWOSU will next put its unbeaten record on the line at home when it hosts Midwestern State University Thursday, Dec. 7. The men’s and women’s doubleheader is set to begin at 6 p.m.