2025-26 Men's Basketball Game Notes


ARKADELPHIA, Ark. -- Henderson State men's basketball starts the first of three Oklahoma road trips Thursday with a matchup with the Bulldogs of Southwestern Oklahoma State. Tip-off from Pioneer Cellular Event Center is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Henderson State won its second consecutive game on Saturday, opening the calendar year with a 66-64 victory over Arkansas-Monticello. The Reddies overcame an eight-point halftime deficit and a poor shooting first half, shooting almost 60 percent from the field after the halftime break.

HSU made a season low two three-pointers in Saturday's victory, shooting just 13.3 percent from the field. The Reddies also made just two shots from long range in the December 11th win against Arkansas Tech.

Henderson's leading scorer Zaveion Okoh struggled on Saturday, fighting early game foul troubles and scoring a season-low four points. However, the junior still paces the Reddies with 16.8 points per game, good enough for third in the Great American Conference.

The Reddies currently boast two reigning GAC Players of the Week: Jabari West and Tyson Whybrew. West was named Offensive Player of the Week after a 21-point effort off the bench in the win over UAM. Whybrew earned co-Defensive Player of the Week honors after a seven-rebound, four-steal, one-block performance against the Weevils.


Scouting Southwestern Oklahoma

Southwestern Oklahoma State comes into Thursday's matchup having lost five of its last six games, including a 77-72 home loss to East Central last Saturday. The Bulldogs have had arguably the toughest conference schedule through six games, facing three of the top four teams in the league prior to the holiday break.

The Bulldogs are a heavy three-point based offense; they rank third in the GAC in three pointers made and attempted. However, as a team, they only shoot 30.9 percent from deep, ninth in the conference. SWOSU ranks 11th in the league in field goal percentage.

Southwestern ranks 11th in the league in scoring offense, but rank fifth in scoring defense. The Bulldogs also do a good job of taking care of the basketball, turning the ball over the fourth-fewest times in the conference.

Ty Frierson leads the Bulldogs in both scoring and assists, but ranks just 22nd in the GAC in points per game. The Bulldogs do not have a player ranked in the top ten in the conference in points or rebounds,