Box Score ESPANOLA, NM --- Junior George Williams scored 27 points to help lead the Wayland Baptist Pioneers to a 80-63 over Northern New Mexico College on Tuesday evening. It was the season opener for both squads.
A 6'5 transfer from State Fair Community College, Williams was 7-for-10 from the field, including 4-for-4 from beyond the arch. He was also a perfect 9-for-9 from the free point line.
Senior guard Josh Teague added 15 points, and Desmaan Robinson, a 6'11 junior center from Central Arizona College, came off the bench to contribute 12 points and six rebounds.
Pioneer coach Robert Davenport was pleased with his team's effort in its first game of the 2010 season.
"It was a good first game. We saw a lot of different things -a little man, some zone, some full-court press, and a ¾ trap. Our execution was good, but I think it can get better."
Every player scored for the Pioneers, who shot 58 percent from the field. They were 7-of-12 (58%) from the three-point line and hit 15-of-22 free throw attempts (68%).
The Pioneers had a 30-18 advantage on the boards, led by junior Rodrigo Silva with seven. Junior Bobby Watkins also recorded six boards.
WBU turned the ball over 21 times, but forced 23 by NNMC.
Davenport's team jumped out to a 26 point lead at the half, but allowed the Eagles to pull to within nine in the second period.
"They hit a couple of shots to start the second half and switched to a full-court press. We panicked a little bit and turned the ball over a couple of times, but we eventually calmed down and opened the lead back up again."
Davenport was pleased with the production of his newcomers, Williams and Robinson, as well as point guard C'Jamarion Leashore. He also praised his lone returning senior.
"It was good to see George and Desmaan score in double figures. Jamarion played well. He played good defense and ran the team well. He did what we wanted him to do, and Josh came off the bench and provided energy."
Leashore,a junior from Sinclair College, scored just three points, but had four assists and five rebounds and only turned the ball over two times.
Two freshmen, Nathan Harbour of Graham (Tex.) High School and Curtis Stuckey of North Las Vegas (Nev.) High also got live minutes and helped out, according to Davenport .
The Pioneers will face the Eagles again on Saturday, this time in the friendly confines of Hutcherson Center.
"I'm sure they will try the press and the zone trap again since they had some success with it tonight," said Davenport, "but I doubt it will work quite as well on our home court."
The men's game on Saturday will tip-off at 2 pm. The Flying Queens will follow at 4 pm, also against Northern New Mexico.
