Men Take Down Northeastern

January 14, 2009

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Southwestern Oklahoma State University opened up Lone Star Conference North Division play as winners coming away with a 69-60 road victory over Northeastern State University in a men's basketball game.

The victory improved SWOSU to 10-6 on the year and sets up what will be an important showdown with nationally-ranked and defending conference champion Central Oklahoma Saturday in Weatherford. Tipoff for the SWOSU-UCO game is at 4 p.m.

Kenneth White scored 30 points and SWOSU made the key plays down the stretch to hold off NSU any attempted comeback. White, who had 21 points in the first half, was nearly unstoppable as he topped the 30-point mark for the third time this season. His 30-point effort moved him into the scoring lead in the LSC and upped his season average to 20.8 points per game.

SWOSU took the lead for good in the final seconds of the first half when White buried a three pointer to put the Bulldogs in front 33-32 at the break. SWOSU maintained a small lead for much of the second half but had to dig in when the RiverHawks got to within one later. Ben Rovenstine drilled a three-pointer to cut the Bulldogs margin to 55-54 with 6:42 to play and things got tighter down the stretch.

Clarke Hale scored for SWOSU to keep the Bulldogs in front and then swished a pair of free throws to build the lead back to 59-54 with 3:16 to play.

Abdullah Lawal hit four consecutive free throws in the final two minutes and Keith Richardson scored on a driving layup that put the game safely in the bag for the Bulldogs.

SWOSU shot the ball well making 48% of its field goals on 26-of-55 attempts. Meanwhile, NSU was not nearly as effecting making just 38% on 22-of-56 attempts.

Both teams made six three-pointers and the free throw margin favored SWOSU by one, 11-10. One of the keys in the game was SWOSU's defense forcing NSU into 14 turnovers while committing just seven themselves.

NSU, which fell to 4-11 with the loss, was led by Jason Jones with 23 points.