Box Score Shawnee, Okla. --- Three Pioneers scored in double figures, led by Jason Griffin's 20, but it wasn't enough to overcome a sloppy first half in a 79-73 loss at St. Gregory's. Tommie Sanders added 14 and Rishi Kakad put in 13 for Wayland which fell to 8-13 overall and 4-12 in Sooner Athletic Conference action.
The WBU men started the game shooting just 31 percent from the field and were down 34-23 at the intermission. The second half went much better with the Pioneers hitting 51.5 percent, including 7-of-11 from long range, and outscoring their hosts, 50-45.
The real difference in the contest came at the free throw line. WBU couldn't take advantage of their trips to the charity stripe, converting just 12 of 20 attempts, while the Cavaliers put in 18-of-21. SGU also turned 19 Wayland turnovers into 20 points. On the other end of the court, the Pioneers scored just eight points off of 20 turnovers by their opponents.
Wayland hit two more treys than SGU and scored 14 points off 13 offensive rebounds. The Cavaliers won the battle of the boards, 38-33, but recorded just three points off 10 offensive boards.
Johnny Terra had a game-high eight rebounds for the Pioneers. He was also the assist leader with four. Rodrigo Silva and Rishi Kakad had two steals each.
St. Gregory's (6-13, 1-13) was led by Jade Carter with 27 points and Fayzon Richey with 21.
The Pioneers come back home for games with #6 Southern Nazarene and USAO on Thursday and Saturday. Former Pioneer favorite Jeff Caha returns to Hutcherson Center for the first time in six years as an assistant coach for the Crimson Storm.
