WINFIELD, Kan. — In a fight for supremacy in the KCAC at Stewart Field House, the No. 9-ranked Southwestern College Moundbuilders (19-3, 14-3) fell to No. 4 Oklahoma Wesleyan University in a heart breaking 68-70 loss.

Oklahoma Wesleyan set the tone in the first half, shooting 42.11% from the field, behind the hot hand of DJ Talton Jr., who had 12 first half points and finished with 32 points to lead all scorers.

But the Moundbuilders found themselves only down two at the half, 35-37, after a Cevin Clark shot missed and an Andrew O'Brien buzzer beater just missed on the final possession.  

The Builders were never out of it, shooting 45.45 percent from the three-point line in the first half. There were six lead changes in the game before the Eagles took ahold of the game at the 11-minute mark in the second half.

The Builders pulled within three points, just before Clark fouled out with 2:14 left in the game.

Andrew O'Brien nailed a clutch three with two minutes left, to bring the Builders within one, 67-68.

But the next possession, Talton Jr. finished in the paint to extend the lead to three, 67-70.

After a Talton Jr, miss and a defensive rebound, Trey Abasolo was fouled but split a pair of free throws, to cut the lead to two with :41 seconds left, 68-70.

On the next possession, Wesleyan's Jaden Lietzke missed, and Zach Hildago brought down one of his 10 rebounds for the game, and the Builders called a timeout with just :12.9 seconds remaining.

Out of the timeout, Justin DeMaria couldn't get a clean look and the ball found O'Brien late in the shot clock, who was forced into a tough fading shot contested by two Eagles at the buzzer, but it hit front iron and off. The Builders fell, 68-70.

Clark led the Builders in scoring, with 19 points, and he still retained his status as the nation's top NAIA scorer dropping to 27 ppg.

Jarvis Jennings had 17 points and four rebounds.

O'Brien finished with 10 points, five assists, and seven rebounds.

The Moundbuilders will be out on the road in North Newton at Bethel College (11-12, 8-9), Saturday, Feb. 10, at 5 pm.