GOODWELL, Okla. – The University of the Southwest men's basketball team opened its 2026-27 campaign with a strong road victory on Friday before battling through a defensive struggle Saturday against Oklahoma Panhandle State, leaving the weekend with a 1-1 record.
Friday: Southwest 76, Southwestern Christian 72
Southwest opened the season with a hard-fought 76-72 win over Southwestern Christian on Friday afternoon at Anchor D Arena. The Mustangs controlled much of the contest, leading by as many as 11 points in the first half before fending off several second-half rallies by the Eagles.
The Mustangs were led by a dominant offensive performance from Ebi Bortey, who scored 21 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting night while adding nine rebounds. Treston Gage matched Bortey with a game-high 21 points, adding six rebounds and several key baskets down the stretch to help seal the victory. Marc Eyman contributed 11 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks, while Jayvian Lawson chipped in seven points and four assists.
Southwest dominated the glass, outrebounding Southwestern Christian 49-35 and holding a 42-26 advantage in points in the paint. The Mustangs shot 40.6 percent from the field and connected on enough free throws late to keep the Eagles at bay.
After Southwestern Christian trimmed the deficit to three points several times in the second half, the Mustangs answered with timely baskets from Gage, Bortey, and Eyman. Free throws in the final minute helped Southwest close out the four-point victory and secure its first win of the season.
Saturday: Oklahoma Panhandle State 53, Southwest 46
The Mustangs returned to the floor Saturday evening and found themselves in a defensive battle against Oklahoma Panhandle State. Southwest carried a narrow 26-25 lead into halftime but struggled offensively in the second half as the Aggies claimed a 53-46 victory.
Ebi Bortey again paced the Mustangs with 12 points, six rebounds, and five steals. Marc Eyman added nine points and four rebounds, while Connor Moody and Daunte Brown each scored nine points.
Southwest's defense kept the game within reach throughout the night, forcing 20 Aggie turnovers and collecting 11 steals. However, the Mustangs were unable to find consistent offense, shooting just 26.4 percent from the floor and 21.1 percent from three-point range.
The Mustangs rallied midway through the second half, taking a 45-41 lead on a Moody three-pointer with 4:28 remaining. Oklahoma Panhandle State responded with a 12-1 run over the final four minutes, fueled by free throws and key baskets from RJ Walker and Gyterson Louissaint, to pull away late.
Southwest finished the opening weekend 1-1, averaging 61.0 points per game across the two contests. Bortey emerged as the team's top performer, averaging 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds, while Gage averaged 12.5 points and six rebounds. The Mustangs showed their ability to compete on both ends of the floor, highlighted by a season-opening road win and a strong defensive effort in Saturday's matchup.
Southwest will look to build on its opening-weekend performance as the season continues into next week.
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