Both Bulldog basketball teams took on OBU Saturday in pivotal conference matchups as the teams battled to make the Great American Conference postseason tournament.
The doubleheader began with the women’s game. Coming into the game, the Lady Bulldogs held a 6-5 record and took on the 5-6 lady Bison. The Dawgs got off to a very hot start, opening the game up on a 15-0 scoring run and holding OBU scoreless for nearly the first seven minutes. SWOSU owned a 16-point lead at halftime but OBU quickly changed the tide of the game, outscoring SWOSU 21 to 11 in the third quarter cutting their lead down to six at the start of the fourth quarter.
Down the stretch in the fourth quarter, OBU cut the lead down to three on two occasions, but a clutch Mason Jones three and Lanie Gooch fastbreak bucket helped keep SWOSU on top. OBU got within one point late in the contest, but a Hailey Grant free throw helped to ice the game, giving the Lady Bulldogs a 63-61 win. The win gives SWOSU sole possession of fifth place halfway through Great American Conference play.
Following the women’s game, the men took the court. SWOSU entered the game with a 6-5 record, and OBU entered at 4-7. Opposite of the girls’ game, it was OBU jumping out to the early lead. The Bison led by 11 early in the contest. The Bulldogs battled back midway through the first half and only trailed by three at the halftime break.
The second half was back and forth throughout. In a game that featured multiple second-half lead changes, the Bulldogs led by one with five minutes left to play. From that point on, it was rough sledding for the Bulldogs, as they were outscored 15-5 over the last five minutes, losing the game by a score of 65 to 74. The loss moves the Dawgs to sixth within the GAC, keeping them on the bubble of making the eight-team GAC tournament.
Both teams are back in action again on Thursday, taking on Arkansas-Monticello. The girls’ game tips off at 5:30, and the guys’ game tips off at 7:30. Come out and support the Dawgs as they enter a key stretch of the season!
