Basketball Men Come Up Short at SWOSU

WEATHERFORD – Coming off a much-needed victory over Central Oklahoma, the USAO men’s basketball team hoped to keep the streak alive. Instead, the Drovers suffered a 78-73 loss to Southwestern Oklahoma State in a non-conference matchup with the NCAA Division II school.

With the five-point setback, USAO falls to 1-2 overall. This Monday, the Drovers look to even things up when the Bulldogs come to USAO Fieldhouse for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off. Over Thanksgiving weekend, USAO is scheduled to compete at the Harding University Classic in Searcy, Ark.

As about 1,400 watched Monday, USAO hit over 58 percent from 3-point range in the first half to take a comfortable 36-25 lead into halftime. In contrast, Southwestern struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 14 percent in the first half.

The second half, however, produced a different result, as the Bulldogs shot a blistering 70 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range to outscore the Drovers 53-37 in the final period.

Three Drovers scored in double figures, led by senior Wayne Gibson’s game-high 22 points and six rebounds. Others in double figures included sophomore Avery Stevenson with 15 points and senior Keith Miller added 10 points. Miller also finished with a game-high six assists for USAO.

Rounding out the scoring for USAO were junior Wayne Walls with eight points, junior Romeil Perkins with six, senior Tony Jimmerson with five, followed by junior Tyree Hankerson with four and junior Nate Foster with three points.

As a team, USAO hit 50 percent (22-of-44) from the field, 61 percent (11-of-18) from 3-point range and 90 percent (18-of-20) from the free throw line. The Drovers collected 23 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals and committed 12 turnovers.