Men Win, Lead SAC

CHICKASHA – All that matters is that the Drovers are tied for first in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings after Saturday’s 67-62 win over Northwestern Oklahoma inside the USAO Fieldhouse.

A week ago, the University of Science and Arts was 0-6 after playing one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country. Saturday, that preparation paid off with the first win of the season and a win that moved the Drovers into a three-way tie for first place in the Sooner Athletic Conference.

USAO’s 1-6 overall record looks a little out of place along side Oklahoma City’s 11-0 and Lubbock Christian’s 6-3. But the league record of 1-0 has to look good to head coach Brisco McPherson after his team struggled to hold teams under 83 points per game through the first six contests.

NWOSU (7-2, 0-1) entered the game averaging 80 points a game, but the Drover defense – which could only be described as “tenacious” – caused 15 turnovers and nine steals. USAO posted only nine turnovers, its second lowest number of the season and outscored the Rangers 16-10 off those turnovers.

USAO found itself down 31-27 at halftime thanks to a lousy 8-for-28 first-half shooting performance. The shots started falling in the second half, and the Drovers outscored the Rangers 40-31 in the final frame.

Four Drovers finished in double figures led by a game-high 19 points from Avery Stevenson. Thomas Woods posted 14 points, and freshman point guard Dexter Williams scored a career-high 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting with a 3-pointer. Dalane Finley rebounded from a tough first half to finish with 11 points.

The men have little time to celebrate as they travel to Durant on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game against Southeastern Oklahoma. SOSU won the earlier matchup but are licking their wounds after an 80-62 loss to Texas A&M-Kingsville. SOSU (7-1) will be the second one-loss team the Drovers have played this season.

###