Men Work Overtime in Win
February 7, 2009
Clarke Hale
Clarke Hale scored a career-best 31 points and the Bulldogs moved into second place by in the Lone Star Conference North Division. SWOSU's record now stands at 14-8 overall and 5-2 in division play. The Bulldogs will next play against an improved Cameron team Wednesday night in Lawton. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.
A&M-Commerce, which had beaten the Bulldogs three nights ago on a basket in the final seconds, dropped to 13-9 and 4-3 with the loss. The Lions were led by Deundrae Spraggins with 15 points.
Hale was nine-of-19 from the field including connecting on seven-of-12 from three point distance. He was a perfect six-for-six from the line to finish with his career best numbers. Hale put SWOSU in front early in the overtime sinking pair of free throws and drilling a long-distance trey for a 73-72 edge with 2:28 to play in the session.
Matej Mrkick then scored on a pair of back-to-back baskets and the Bulldogs built their lead to a 77-72 margin with 58 seconds to play.
Jerard Campbell had 19 points and Kenneth White added 10 for the Bulldogs who got points from all eight players.
A&M-Commerce sent the game into overtime tied at 68-68 when Cardell Hunter knocked down a three-point jumper with four seconds to play. Hunter's basket completed an 8-2 run that wiped out SWOSU's lead in the last minute. SWOSU looked to be in good shape up 66-60 on a free throw by White with 45 seconds to play.
Commerce answered with a three-point play by Sammy Jackson at the 32 second mark to cut the lead to 66-63. The cushion became one when Brad Hambrick scored inside for A&M-Commerce at the 27 second mark before Kendall Smith hit two free throws with 14 seconds, putting the Bulldogs in front 68-65.
SWOSU ended the game making 45% of its shots on 25-of-56 attempts from the field. The Bulldogs, the conference's top three-point shooting team, made one more than their season average connecting on 11 against the Lions stretched out defense.
SWOSU was out rebounded by a 34-28 margin but forced the Lions into three more turnovers thanks in part to the play of defensive wizard Abdullah Lawal who finished the game with five steals.