Men Make it Eight Straight

December 7, 2006

Marcus Millender

WEATHERFORD – Southwestern Oklahoma State University shifted its basketball engines into high gear with a second-half scoring attack that left visiting Midwestern State gasping for air and unable to keep up. The Bulldogs remained unbeaten in eight starts with a 114-99 win over the Mustangs Thursday.

SWOSU scored a whopping 69 points in the games final 20 minutes and erased a two-point halftime deficit within minutes of the second half. Reggie Gunn and Marcus Millender each had 20 points as the Bulldogs put an amazing seven players in double figures in the season-high point explosion.

The Bulldogs used a 14-2 run early in the second half to take control of the game. Ryan Mann’s fast-break dunk put the Bulldogs ahead 63-54 with 15:42 to play. The Bulldogs pushed their lead to as many as 14 points and had 100 with 3:40 to play after Eric Payne’s rainbow three-pointer ripped through the net.

Jose Garcia and Nate Perry each had 17 points for the Bulldogs while Mann had 13 and Clarke Hale and Payne each scored 11.

MSU, which fell to 3-2, was led by Drew Coffman with 25 points.

Nate Perry

The Bulldogs again found ways to win despite being outshot 52% to 47% and out rebounded by margin of 19 boards. SWOSU forced the Mustangs into 23 turnovers while only committing 10 themselves in the up-and-down game.

Coach Todd Thurman again was able to substitute freely and used his bench effectively. SWOSU had 44 bench points to MSU’s 25.

MSU led 34-21 late in the first half only to see the Bulldogs gain some needed momentum with a burst before the break.

Garcia, Clark and Gunn got hot from the perimeter each taking turns dropping in three-point bombs. The trio knocked down four tryes in the final two minutes of the second half, two of which were by Gunn. His second tied the game at 45-45 with 41 seconds to play.

SWOSU will next play at home Saturday, Dec. 16 against Missouri Southern. Gamtime is at 2 p.m. in Weatherford.