Donnell Bey, a 5-9 sophomore guard from Newark New Jersey, calmly swished two free throws through the net with four seconds left in overtime to give the Western Oklahoma State Pioneers a 80-78 victory over Frank Phillips College of Borger, Texas here on Wednesday night.

Things couldn't have been much more even during regulation, as the score was tied 35-35 at halftime, then knotted at 70-70 after 40 minutes of play.

The Pioneers used a basket by Karl Holmes and a pair of three pointers by Damon Salters to open up an 8-0 lead during the first 1:30 of the game. Western went on to up their advantage to 25-12 before the Plainsmen started to battle their way back.

Frank Phillips went on a 9-0 run to cut the Pioneers' lead to 25-21 with 3:50 left in the first half.

The Plainsmen went on to take a 33-32 lead with 25 seconds left in the opening half, but Desmond Plunkett was fouled while attempting a trey and connected on all three foul shots to put the Pioneers up by a score of 35-33.

That lead didn't stand up long, as DeAndre Rice hit an 18 footer at the halftime buzzer to tie the game.

The second half was nip and tuck the whole way, with neither team able to build more than a five-point lead. Holmes tipped in a missed shot at the :32 mark to give Western a 70-68 lead, then Jerome Richardson hit a pair of foul shots for the Plainsmen to send the game into the extra period.

Frank Phillips quickly went on top 75-70, but Salters hit a trey and big Sean Gee hit three of four foul shots to give the Pioneers a 76-75 edge with 2:09 to go.

Richardson hit one of two foul shots to tie the game again, then Plunkett connected on a 15-foot jumper to give Western a 78-76 edge with 35 seconds on the clock.

Andre Oupoh scored from the lane 10 seconds later to make the score 78 all and another overtime was a distinct possibility. Western brought the ball down the court and Bey started his move toward the basket and drew the foul as his shot bounced off the rim.

Frank Phillips had one last opportunity, but Oupoh's 15-footer rimmed out.

The Pioneers had three players in double figures. Plunkett led the way with 20 points, followed by Salters, who hit five treys in scoring 16 points, and Bey, who connected for 11 markers. Bey and Salters led the team in rebounds with five each.

Frank Phillips had a huge edge in free throws, hitting 27 of 39 attempts while Western managed to coax in 15 of 24

Western, now 8-5, will make the long trip to Miami for a Bi-State Conference game with Northeastern Oklahoma College at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

WESTERN 80, FRANK PHILLIPS 78 (OT)

Men

WESTERN - Holmes 4-0-8, Gaines 3-0-6, Salters 5-1-16, Stanberry 2-0-5, Bey 3-5-11, Brooks 3-0-6, Plunkett 7-6-20, Duncan 1-0-2. Totals: 29-61 15-24 80. PF 28. Rebounds - 24 (Bey 5, Salters 5, Gee 4). Steals: 4. Blocked shots - 1. Turnovers - 16.

FRANK PHILLIPS - Farmer 1-0-2, Gandy 2-0-4, Rice 3-3-11, Sobers 1-0-3, Richardson 7-9-24, Williams 0-1-1, Wilson 3-3-10, McLeod 4-6-14, Oupoh 1-3-5, Cannon 1-2-4. Totals: 23-51 27-39 78. PF 19. Rebounds - 32 (Wilson 7, Oupoh 7, Gandy 5). Steals: 2. Blocked shots - 1. Turnovers - 17.

Halftime: Score tied, 35-35.

3-point goals: (Western) Salters 5, Stanberry. (Frank Phillips) Rice 2, Sobers, Richardson, Wilson.