Jeff Weseloh (SBU Sports Information) Tahlequah, Okla. – The Southwest Baptist University men’s basketball team picked up a 51-43 victory over Northeastern State on Thursday evening. With the win SBU improves to 12-9 (5-7 MIAA) on the season.
The Bearcats and RiverHawks were slow to open up the game, and a three from Matt Ridder gave the Bearcats their first lead of the game at 7-4 with 13:35 to go in the half. A Kalehl Brown layup maintained the three point lead at 11-8 before NSU went on a 7-0 run as the Bearcats trailed 15-11 with 8:44 left in the half.
Both teams continued their strong defensive effort, but a Kalehl Brown layup and a Karim Mouliom jumper would tie the game at 15-15 with 4:09 remaining in the half. NSU would re-take the lead at 19-16 with 1:06 to go, but a pair of free throws from Kalehl Brown and a layup from Kalund Brown gave SBU a 20-19 lead at the break.
Coming out in the second half Northeastern State regained the lead at 21-20 before the Bearcats answered with a 7-0 run. Logan Hovey kicked off the run with a layup, followed by a Kai Woodfall three, and completed by a Mouliom dunk to put SBU on top 27-21 with 17:11 left in the game.
The two teams continued to trade buckets, and after NSU cut the Bearcat lead to three at 33-30, Ridder hit his second three of the game to push the lead back to six with 8:41 to go. Every time NSU cut the Bearcat lead down to four or five, SBU responded with points. SBU extended their lead to a game high 8 at 44-36 with 1:18 remaining, but NSU continued to hang tight. The RiverHawks used a 5-0 run to cut the SBU lead to 44-41 with 52 seconds remaining, but a Woodfall free throw push the lead back to 45-41 with 43 seconds to go. NSU then cut the SBU lead down to two (45-43), but clutch free throw shooting from Cartier Dean and Kalund Brown gave SBU a 49-43 lead with 17 seconds remaining. Dean connected on two more free throws to seal the victory as SBU came away with a 51-43 win.
Logan Hovey had a game high 11 points and 8 rebounds to pace the Bearcats, while Cartier Dean chipped in 8 points in the win. As a team SBU shot 34.9% from the field, 23.1% from beyond the arc, and 69.2% from the line.
The Bearcats will return to action on Saturday, February 4 when they travel to Central Oklahoma. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m. from Edmond, Oklahoma.
