Box Score
After suffering their first loss ever against Northern New Mexico College when they opened last season in Espanola, N.M., the Wayland Baptist Pioneers knew better than to look past the Eagles when they met Thursday night in Hutcherson Center.
"They've played some really good basketball," Wayland coach
Matt Garnett said of NNMC.
It was Garnett's Pioneers, however, who played really good ball this time. Behind 24 points each from
Barry Johnson and
Markus Monroe and on the strength of 11 3-pointers and some stingy defense, Wayland overwhelmed the Eagles, 89-48.
"We had a good week of practice, and that showed tonight," Garnett said. "The value of preparation is becoming more and more important internally in that locker room."
Johnson hit five 3-pointers while Monroe went 12-of-12 from the free-throw line to help the unbeaten Pioneers start their season with four wins for the first time since 2010. The Eagles fell to 4-3.
Wayland, which led 50-25 at halftime, got 10 points from
Travis Payton, nine from
Sasha Ovcharenko and seven each from
Kelly Lawson and
Plamen Hristov.
More than anything, Garnett liked seeing Wayland's 16 assists on 28 field goals.
"The ball was moving much better than it was the other night. Guys were making the extra pass," he said. "Guys were turning down average shots to get better rhythm shots, which is a sign of this team growing."
Seven Pioneers recorded assists, led by Monroe with five.
"We're starting to understand the value of each other," Garnett added. "We just have to stay really committed to growth."
Wayland scored the first 12 points of the game, including back-to-back 3s from Johnson. The Eagles finally notched their first points almost five minutes into the game. Shortly after that, Wayland outscored NMMC, 12-2, to take a commanding 24-6 lead, and it was never close the rest of the way.
"Once we were able to grab a little momentum with our defense, we were able to get away from them," Garnett said. "It's always good to be able to steal that early momentum and find a way to keep it by continuing to defend."
Wayland shot 48 percent (28-of-59) from the field while holding the Eagles to just 28 percent (18-of-64). The Pioneers hit 41 percent (11-of-27) from 3-point range and were 22-of-27 (82 percent) from the free-throw line. NMMC made only 2-of-21 3-pointers and was 10-of-13 from the stripe.
Daniel Chatchou was the only NMMC player in double figures with 10 points.
"The first thing that was really important that we wanted to do was buy into playing extremely hard on the defensive end and being disciplined, and for the most part we did that," Garnett said. "They showed great improvement in their defensive focus and discipline."
It was Wayland's best defensive effort since holding West Coast Baptist to 22 points in a 63-point win two years ago. That victory came after Wayland lost to West Coast Baptist in their previous game, 76-75.
"I thought we rebounded and stayed really focused defensively," Garnett said.
The Pioneers play their first road game of the season on Saturday in Hobbs, N.M., where they take on University of the Southwest at 4 p.m. (CST). The Flying Queens follow in a game at 6.
The Pioneers defeated the Mustangs in Plainview in their second game of the season on Nov. 7, 102-67.
"This is our first road game, so that will be a big test," Garnett said. "I'm excited to get on the road with this team. One of the big things we're focusing on is becoming mentally tougher, and you can't develop that anywhere better than on the road."
After Saturday, Wayland plays again at 7 p.m. Monday against West Texas A&M in Canyon before returning to the Hutch at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30 against Ecclesia College.
Garnett said he is happy with his team's 4-0 start, but said being undefeated isn't the most important thing at this stage of the season.
"The most important thing to remember is if you don't continue to improve and tighten up weaknesses, you'll get left behind," he said. "Everything we do is to improve and prepare for league play."
