Bulldogs Cooled by Southeastern, 89-74

January 20, 2007

DURANT – Southwestern Oklahoma State University was unable to carry its sharp shooting marksmanship the full 40 minutes and found itself unable to contain Southeastern Oklahoma State University inside and suffered a 89-74 beating Saturday in Durant.

The Bulldogs fell to 13-3 and 1-1 in the Lone Star Conference North Division while SOSU, the No. 16 ranked team in NCAA Division II, improved to 14-2 and 2-0 in the division.

Clarke Hale finished with a game-high 14 points and led an early scoring surge by the Bulldogs that just about buried the Savage Storm before the game was 10 minutes old. Hale hit back-to-back-back three-pointers as the Bulldogs scored 35 points in the first 10 minutes and led by 15 points over a stunned SOSU team.

The Savage Storm regrouped and led by All-American candidate 6-8 Eric Babers began to climb back and eventually forge a 48-48 tie at the intermission. All this came despite the Bulldogs making an astonishing 11 three pointers in 18 attempts.

Hale’s jumper gave SWOSU its last lead at 60-58 with 14:55 to play. Babers and his teammates then went to work punishing the undersized Bulldogs with his brusing play around the basket. Babers finished with 31 points and 18 rebounds and his layup gave SOSU a 68-62 lead with 11:37 to play.

The Bulldogs did manage to get back within one point later when Othello Alford drilled a three-pointer to cut SOSU’s advantage to 68-67 with 9:30 to play. SWOSU would not threaten again as the Bulldogs were held scoreless during the game’s final three minutes.

The Bulldogs will next play Wednesday, Jan. 24 in Edmond against the University of Central Oklahoma. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.