Bulldogs Bounce Tigers, Improve to 13-2

January 17, 2007

Jose Garcia

WEATHERFORD – Southwestern Oklahoma State University cranked up its offensive engines in the second half and managed to pull away from a determined East Central University basketball team for an 88-72 victory Wednesday in Weatherford.

SWOSU poured in 54 second-half points and put away the Tigers with some sharp shooting from long distance and a plenty of fast break baskets. The win improved SWOSU to 13-2 and put them at 1-0 in the Lone Star Conference North Division. ECU fell to 8-7 and 0-1 with the loss.

Nate Perry had 22 points and Jose Garcia added 18 points for the Bulldogs who now head into a showdown with nationally-ranked Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Saturday in Durant.

Garcia sparked a 29-4 second-half run after the Tigers got within six points at 38-32 with 18:18 to play. Garcia swished home a three pointer and then went coast-to-coast and finished with an emphatic slam dunk that brought the home crowd roaring to its feet.

Eric Payne

SWOSU’s Eric Payne hit four three pointers in that strech, including three in a span of 90 seconds. Payne finished with 14 points making all five of his field goal attempts, four of which were from three-point range. His last three gave the Bulldogs a 65-40 lead with 9:20 to play.

The Bulldogs were out rebounded by the bigger Tigers by a 40-31 margin. SWOSU more than made up for the disparity on the defensive end forcing the Tigers into 21 turnovers compared to 13 of their own. SWOSU had 35 points off turnovers while ECU had just 7.

SWOSU made 11-of-27 shots from three-point distance, including a salty seven-of-14 (50%) in the second half. ECU connected on only four-of-13 three attempts for 31%.