WEATHERFORD, Okla. – SWOSU Men's Basketball lost a double-overtime thriller to rival Northwestern Oklahoma State on Thursday evening after the Rangers sank a three-pointer with less than four seconds to play and took the game 98-96.
The Bulldogs led by 10 with just over 10 minutes to play, but they were unable to close out the Rangers, who sank two free throws with 24 seconds to play in overtime and forced overtime after a last-second shot by Nick Shoemaker was off the mark. SWOSU trailed for most of the first overtime period until Shoemaker got a steal and lay-in with 25 seconds play to put the Dawgs up one, but a foul and one made free throw left the score tied at 85-85 after 45 minutes of action.
The second overtime period was played within five-point range as SWOSU went up 91-88 following a four-point play by Daniel Eibel with just under three minutes left. Northwestern answered with a triple and eventually took a two-point lead before Kamden Gipson took the ball the length of the field to tie the game at 93-all with 1:38 to play.
On SWOSU's next possession, Gipson hit a shot and was fouled, then converted the three-point play to put SWOSU up by one. The Bulldogs got a defensive stop and Shoemaker tracked down the rebound with 31 seconds to play, which was too much time to run the clock out. Tre Evans made his move to the basket with 10 seconds on the clock and expected contact that did not come, and instead he lost the ball out of bounds and gave NWOSU possession down one in the closing second.
Northwestern took advantage of the final gift from the Bulldogs as Cole Jones took a handoff with five seconds to play and connected on a wing three-pointer that proved to be the difference. Evans had one last chance from two steps inside half court, but his shot was off the mark at the buzzer, allowing the Rangers to prevail.
Five different players scored in double figures for the Bulldogs, who were led by Shoemaker with 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting. In the game, Shoemaker knocked down 6-of-8 three-pointers, hitting the 200th three of his career in the process. Gipson finished with the first double-double of his career with 20 point and 10 assists, both of which represent new career-highs.
With the loss, the Bulldogs have been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention and they'll head to Bethany on Saturday to match up with league-leading and #17/20-ranked Southern Nazarene.
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