Box Score

Edmond, Okla. - The Southwest Baptist University men's basketball team fell at Central Oklahoma on Saturday evening 71-61. With the loss SBU drops to 12-10 (5-8 MIAA) on the season.

The Bearcats and Bronchos started out the contest slow, and after a pair of free throws from Cartree Pettis the Bearcats trailed 13-10 with 11:48 left in the first half. UCO responded with a 12-0 run over the next seven minutes, as SBU trailed 25-10 with 4:41 left in the half. Four straight free throws from Cartier Dean cut the deficit back to 11 at 25-14, but UCO ended the half on a 7-0 run as SBU went into the half trailing 32-14.

Coming out in the second half Central Oklahoma would push their lead to a game high 24 twice before the Bearcats started to chip away at the lead after trailing 54-30. SBU used a 10-2 run to pull back within 16 (56-40), fueled by five points from Dean. After going down 20 (60-40), the Bearcats used an 8-1 run capped off with a Logan Hovey three to come within 13 at 61-48 with 4:21 remaining. The Bearcats would pull within 8 (67-59) with 34 seconds remaining but were unable to get any closer as they eventually fell 71-61.

Brian Patterson led the Bearcats with a game high 18 points to go along with 5 rebounds. Cartier Dean added 14 points and 5 rebounds, while Logan Hovey had 13 points and 6 rebounds in the loss. As a team SBU shot 36.7% from the field, 31.8% from beyond the arc, and 78.3% from the line.

SBU will return to action on Thursday, February 9 when they host Missouri Southern. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. from the Meyer Sports Center in Bolivar.