SWOSU Season Ends in LSC Tournament

February 28, 2007

WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s inspiring basketball season came to an emphatic end Tuesday as the undersized Bulldogs were overwhelmed by top-seeded Midwestern State University 90-67. The game was played in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament.

SWOSU finishes its first-year under coach Todd Thurman with a record of 17-10, an eight-game improvement from 2005-06. MSU, now 21-6 overall, advances to the semifinals of the tournament in which it will host the winner of the Central Oklahoma and Tarleton State contest scheduled for later tonight.

Clarke Hale had 17 points to lead the Bulldogs who fought through an erratic shooting night in which they made just 35% of its baskets. MSU made 53% of its shots and had more seven rebounds in a game they controlled throughout.

Michael Sampson had 11 points and Nate Perry added 10 for the Bulldogs who managed 67 points, their lowest output of the year.

Texas Tech transfer Drew Coffman led MSU and all scorers with 22 points.

SWOSU put together a gutsy second-half effort that saw them dig out of a19-point second-half hole. Perry strung a few baskets together and Sampson had some inspired play off the bench to lead the Bulldogs surge. Sampson’s put back with 10:00 to play brought the Bulldogs to within four points at 63-59.

SWOSU could not keep it rolling missing costly front ends of a one-and-one and turning the ball over at critical times. MSU answered with a 23-4 run of its own and were back in command at 86-63 with two minutes to play. The Bulldogs made only one field goal over the final 10 minutes, a layup by Hale 90 seconds to play.

In the first half SWOSU played from behind from the outset after MSU got out of the gate with a 7-2 start.

Hale drained a three-pointer and Reggie Gunn followed inside with a put back and to bring SWOSU to within three at 26-23 with eight minutes remaining in the half. The Bulldogs then went scoreless in the next four minutes allowing the Mustangs to run a string of 15 unanswered points go ahead 41-23. Sampson scored on an offensive rebound with 3:30 to play to finally put SWOSU back in motion.

The Bulldogs scored only five points in the final eight minutes of the first half and trailed 45-28 headed into the locker room.