Box Score ALPINE –
Robert Waters returned to the line-up and scored 20 points to lead the No. 21 Wayland Baptist Pioneers to an 84-62 victory over Sul Ross State here Saturday afternoon.
The win in Wayland's final tune-up before Sooner Athletic Conference play begins next week bumped the Pioneers to 7-0 for the first time in six seasons. The last time Wayland won its first eight games was 2004 when the Pioneers started 9-0.
Morris Mitchell added 13 points while
Royal Crouch and
Plamen Hristov added 10 each for hot-handed Wayland, which shot 51 percent (31-of-61) from the field, including 48 percent (10-of-21) from long range. The Pioneers hit 86 percent (12-of-14) from the free-throw line.
Wayland outrebounded SRSU, 43-35. Hristov and
Jordon Johnson grabbed seven boards apiece.
WBU coach
Matt Garnett said the Pioneers played well, at times, defensively.
"Defensively we did some good things," he said. "When you start to really execute defensively what happens is when you don't it becomes very obvious. We have to (execute) for the rest of the year, but we have to start every day trying to improve on our shortcomings, especially on the defensive end."
Waters, who missed Wayland's last two games with an injury, made 8-of-12 field goals, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
Sul Ross State (0-5) was limited to 28 percent shooting (17-of-60) from the field, including 25 percent (5-of-20) from 3-point range. The Lobos made 23-of-29 (79 percent) at the foul stripe. Junior guards Mike Huffman and Rocky Feliciano led the Lobos with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Wayland trailed early 5-2, but quickly took the upper-hand and maintained it the rest of the way. A strong push late in the first half helped put the Pioneers in control at the break, 46-34.
"I thought we had some opportunities to make some big defensive plays and missed them in the first half, but we ended the last 2½ minutes on a good note," Garnett said.
The Pioneers had just five turnovers in the first half, ending the game with 18.
"We did a lot of good things, but definitely we did some things that will make it very difficult in league play if we don't get better at," Garnett said.
WBU outscored the Lobos in the second half, 38-28.
Next up for the Pioneers is Southwestern Christian (3-3) in their SAC opener at 8 p.m. Thursday in Oklahoma City.
"Southwestern Christian has played a very difficult schedule, almost solely (NCAA) Division IIs, and almost all of their losses have been close," Garnett said. "(Coach) Quinn (Wooldridge) has them playing very good basketball. I thought they were very competitive last year, and they're much improved this year."
The Eagles knocked off No. 25 Our Lady of the Lake, 63-62, a week ago.
"It's going to be a very huge challenge to go on the road and make sure we are focused on doing things right," Garnett said, adding that he is looking forward to conference play. "This is an exciting time of year. We want to play as well as we possibly can next weekend."
