Men Bounce Northeastern, 57-42

February 25, 2009

WEATHERFORD, Okla. - Southwestern Oklahoma State University kept its hopes of a shared Lone Star Conference North Division title alive with a 57-42 victory over visiting Northeastern State University in a men's basketball game Wednesday in Weatherford.

SWOSU improved to 17-9 and 8-3 in the LSC North and moved to within one game of front-running Central Oklahoma who lost 96-79 earlier at Texas A&M-Commerce. SWOSU will meet UCO in its regular-season finale in Edmond on Saturday at 8 p.m. A victory would clinch SWOSU's first-ever share of the LSC North Title with a 9-3 record. Regardless of the outcome at UCO, the Bulldogs secured their sixth consecutive trip to the LSC Postseason Tournament with their lopsided victory over NSU.

Clarke Hale scored 13 points to lead SWOSU and became the newest member of the 1,000 point career scoring club. He was joined in double figures by Jerard Campbell with 12 and Kenneth White with 11.

NSU, which was led by Jason Jones with 16 points, dropped to 10-16 overall and 5-6 in the LSC North Division.

SWOSU carried a 30-17 lead into the break and upped it to 16 midway through the second half when Campbell swished two free throws to make it 42-26 with 14:23 to play. NSU got it to within nine points one time but it was quickly erased as the Bulldogs scored back-to-back buckets on inside moves by Campbell and Jordan Frosch.

The game was a defensive struggle as both teams exercised patience on the offensive end. SWOSU attempted only 48 shots and made 21 of them for a 44% success rate. NSU was just 34% making 18-of-53. The free throw line was a non-factor as the Bulldogs visited it just nine times and made seven while NSU was zero-for-four.

The rebound battle was even at 33 apiece. Abdullah Lawal had eight rebounds to lead both teams in that category.