Pioneers rally from 16 down, can't close out USAO

Box Score Wayland Baptist rallied all the way back from a 16-point deficit, but in the end the No. 24 Pioneers couldn't hold off the determined Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers in Sooner Athletic Conference play Thursday night in Hutcherson Center, 98-92.

"I'm really disappointed. We went up by three and just needed to get one or two stops in crunch time and didn't come up with the defensive plays," Wayland coach Ty Harrelson said. "On the other side we turned the ball over. We can't expect to win conference games doing those things."

Wayland (11-5, 3-2 SAC), after trailing 51-35 late in the first half, put forth an inspiring come-from-behind effort and took a one-point lead with 12 minutes left in the game, mostly behind the hot hands of Maurice Redmond, Marshall Nelson and Robert Waters.

With each 3 made, the 500 fans roared louder.

The Pioneers went up by as many as three, 83-80, with five minutes to go, but the Drovers (7-5, 2-2) regained the upper hand shortly after that and never gave it back.

"Our guys showed a lot of passion. My three seniors (Robert Waters, Jordon Johnson and Robert Lopez) and Mo (Maurice Redmond), who was here last year, and Marquous Barnes did  a really good job of getting us back in the game," Harrelson said. "I probably should have used a timeout to give the team a bit of a rest, but instead I made some quick substitutions.

"Everyone on the team is capable. We just struggled a little bit at times."

Still, Wayland was within one, 90-89, with 2:47 showing when USAO scored the next six points to make it a seven-point lead and seal the Pioneers' fate.
"USAO made a couple of shots and got going again, and we weren't able to stop them," Harrelson said.

"We just weren't very tough when we needed to be tough," he added. 

Redmond's 20 points led five Pioneers in double figures. Johnson added 17 points, Barnes got 16 off the bench, Waters tallied 14, and Marshall Nelson 11.

After shooting just 32 percent (13-of-41) from the field in the first half, Wayland improved to 52 percent (17-of-33) after halftime and wound up at 41 percent. The Pioneers made just 2-of-11 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes but drained 7-of-10 in the second half.

"If our guys want to reach their goals, we can't play a half like we did tonight and expect to win many games," Harrelson said. "USAO came ready to play, and played a very good basketball game."

The Drovers were more consistent, hitting six treys in each period to finish 12-of-29 (41 percent). The Drovers shot 49 percent (32-of-65) from the floor overall. Both teams shot well at the free-throw line where Wayland went 23-of-33 (70 percent) and USAO 22-of-29 (76 percent).

Wayland was outrebounded 45-39, although the Pioneers pulled down 13 offensive rebounds, two more than the Drovers.

"In conference it's tough to win if you lose the rebounding battle," Harrelson said.

USAO turned it over 20 times, six more than Wayland, although the Pioneers gave it away in some crucial situations down the stretch.

Junior guards Taran Buie and Myron Taylor scored 22 each to lead the visitors. David Tucker added 18 and Brendan Chapman 15.

"I thought Myron Taylor was very good," Harrelson said.

Wayland will try to snap its two-game skid when the Pioneers host Southwestern Christian (6-8, 2-3) at 3 p.m. Saturday. The Eagles fell to John Brown on Thursday, 88-77.

"You've got to protect your home court," Harrelson said. "The Sooner Athletic Conference has been like that since we've been in the league."

Wayland's 2014-15 SAC Tournament championship team will be on hand to receive their championship rings prior to tip-off on Saturday, and Harrelson hopes another enthusiastic crowd is on hand.

"Our crowd tonight was fantastic. I hope it's like that for us every game from here on out," he said. "I was glad to see the band in the gym tonight, and the students really got the team fired up to play. That's what makes small college basketball exciting.

"I hope they continue to support us as we go through the season."