Bison Lose to SNU

January 22, 2007

Oklahoma Baptist had its hands full with No. 7 Southern Nazarene and the wear and tear of playing its third game in five days, losing 89-85.

Southern Nazarene, with a snowed-out game at Northwestern Saturday, had a five-day break and out-worked the Bison, forcing 23 turnovers and beating a normally strong OBU team on the boards 39-29.

SNU got 18 offensive rebounds, compared to two for the Bison.

The Bison found themselves down 13 points with 4:17 left to play and managed to make it a one-possession game late.

Bookie Alexander hit a three-pointer on a feed from Mike Fraser to make it a 10-point game, 84-74, with 4:01 left. The Bison got a stop and then a free throw from Tre Griffin before two more defensive stops were followed by layups by Alexander and Griffin to trim the lead to 84-79 with 2:19 to play.

Justin Benson picked up a rebound on a missed free throw, the only individual offensive rebound of the night for the Bison, and scored to make it an 84-81 ballgame.

Leroy Dawson hit a pair of free throws to make it 86-81 with 1:01 left before Griffin hit Fraser for a lay-in.

After Brandon Durham missed one of two free throws with 24 seconds left, Kortney Smith was fouled and hit two throws to make it 87-85. Dawson hit one of two charity shots to for a three-point lead.

OBU got an awkward pass to Griffin, who pump faked a three before losing the ball out of bounds. Corey Hepburn hit a free throw to ice the game with 1.7 seconds left.

Now 10-6 overall and 3-3 in the SAC, the Bison will play at St. Gregory's Thursday.