Men Fall to ASU, 88-85

December 13, 2008

WEATHERFORD, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State University put together a determined effort but was unable to knock off the unbeaten Angelo State University Rams, losing by a score of 88-85 at home Saturday.

The loss left SWOSU at 6-2 on the season while ASU improved to 7-0 on the year. SWOSU’s next home game is Friday, Dec. 19 against Abilene Christian. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m.

Clarke Hale had 24 points and helped lead a late-game charge in which the Bulldogs fought back from a 17-point hole. SWOSU got within two points when Jerard Campbell scored to trim ASU’s lead to 87-85 with three seconds to play.

The Bulldogs fouled ASU’s Ryan Bennett who went to the line and made one of two free throws to put the Rams ahead 88-85. SWOSU had one last chance to tie the game but its inbound pass was intercepted and ASU and the Rams dribbled out the remaining ticks of the clock.

Hale had considerable help in the scoring column as Jose Garcia added 16 points and Campbell added 15. Kenneth White scored 11 and Abdullah Lawal added 10 for the Bulldogs.

ASU got up quick and stayed in control for much of the first half. The Rams led 18-3 after six minutes of play and had two 20-point leads later in the half. Shavar Burch had 24 points to lead ASU in scoring.

Garcia scored six points in the final two minutes of the first half to bring SWOSU back to within nine points at the break at 38-29.

ASU kept its lead in twin figures before Garcia’s layup with 6:39 got the Bulldogs to within nine points at 67-58. The Bulldogs got within six points when Campbell scored to make it 78-72 with 1:03 to play.

The Rams made six-out-of-eight free throws down the stretch to keep the Bulldogs from getting any closer.

ASU finished the game making 31-of-38 free throws for 82% while SWOSU was just 29-of-43 for 67%.