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SE’s Chandler Dickinson dribbles the ball in the game with OBU. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat -
SE’s Lauren Beason goes up against an OBU player and in the back is Caitlin Kobiske.
With a full week of rest and return home, the Southeastern Savage Storm shooting touch returned to normal form on Saturday as Coach Kelly Green’s men outgunned perennial power Oklahoma Baptist, 92-87, at Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
The Savage Storm connected on 11 of 26 three pointers and needed nearly every one of them to offset the torrid shooting of OBU, which hit 19 of 30 shots in the first half and finished 59 percent for the game.
Southeastern had a terrific first half in the women’s contest but Oklahoma Baptist erased a double digit deficit in the third quarter to pull out the 56-54 win for the visitors.
Each team closes out first semester play at Northwestern on Saturday.
Women
Each team shot exactly 38.6 percent from the field and connected on six three pointers but second chance points proved critical as OBU was able to get 11 extra chances off offensive rebounds by the much taller Lady Bison.
The Savage Storm looked like they might pull it out after an Aimee Alverson driving layup with just under three minutes left but that proved to be their final points, missing three shots and committing a turnover on their final four possessions.
OBU freshman Parker Stevenson rose to the occasion however, tying the game on a trey with 1:51 left and eventually added the game winner with 55 seconds left to finish with a game-high 26 points.
Southeastern leading scorer Caitlin Kobiske struggled a bit against the bigger Bison defenders inside, hitting just five of 14 from the field but still managed to lead the scoring with 19 points.
Ashton Hackler and Alverson tossed in nine points apiece, narrowly missing the double figure mark.
Men
Although they were outscored in the paint as well as being outrebounded, Green’s troops did a tremendous job of taking care of the basketball (nine turnovers) and also dished out 15 assists and connected on 23 of 26 free throw attempts to hold off the hotshooting visitors.
Despite sinking over 63 percent in the first half, OBU could only manage a 44-44 deadlock at the break as Jett Sternberger’s driving bucket in the paint just before the buzzer tied the score in a nipand- tuck offensive battle.
Robert Briley’s bucket inside broke a 65-all tie with just over 10 minutes left and put Southeastern ahead to stay.
Kyle Leslie meanwhile caught fire with two three pointers and Landon Condiff added another as the Savage Storm built as much as a 83-72 edge with four minutes left.
The Bison closed to within three points twice in the final minute but Kody Clouet and Sternberger each canned free throws to seal the Southeastern victory.
Clouet had a strong showing with three treys and nine of 10 at the free throw line on the way to a team-best 24 points. Sternberger tallied 19 points and dished out four assists as Leslie also posted double figures with 18 points, including four three pointers.
Briley finished with nine points, Condiff added eight and Brennen Burns scored seven.