Men Close Exhibition Season

November 11, 2008

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State University began to find its footing as the 2008 basketball season approaches and appears ready to move forward in games that will now officially count. SWOSU played its third and final exhibition game of the season tuning up against Oklahoma City University Tuesday night in Oklahoma City.

SWOSU beat, bullied and out-played the two-time defending NAIA champion for 39 minutes but were unable to deliver the final knockout letting the Stars get away with a 67-64 victory.

Kenneth “Redd” White had 26 points to lead all scorers and his pair of free throws gave the Bulldogs their last lead at 64-63 with 51 seconds to play. OCU, which had a considerable advantage in both height and size, began to use it effectively in the end.

Rodney Alexander’s dunk gave the Stars their first lead of the game at 65-64 with 31 seconds to play. SWOSU had two chances to win it late but both sharpshooters  Clarke Hale and Kendall Smith misfired on three-point attempts and the ball was rebounded by the Stars.

SWOSU nearly ran away from OCU in the outset taking a 10-2 lead out of the gate and holding a 31-29 edge at the break. The Bulldogs lead became 10 points on two different occasions in the second half, the last when Hale successfully executed a three-point play to put SWOSU ahead 49-39 with 12:33 to play.

The Bulldogs ended the game making just 38% of their shots on 21-of-55 shooting. OCU hit at a 51% rate making 24-of-47 attempts. SWOSU was out rebounded 40-22 but kept control of the game by forcing the Stars into 22 turnovers thanks to their aggressive defense.

SWOSU opens the season on the road against the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs on Saturday, Nov. 15. Tipoff is at 9 p.m. (CST) and can be heard on KWEY Radio 95.5 FM or clicking on the “Listen Live” link on SWOSU’s athletic home page at www.swosu.edu/athletic. John Liddle will handle the call of all the exciting play-by-play action.