Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY – Wayland Baptist couldn't get a 3-pointer to fall in the final seconds, and the Pioneers dropped a 70-67 decision to Oklahoma City University in Sooner Athletic Conference play Thursday at Abe Lemons Arena.
It was another close defeat for the Pioneers, who have dropped their last four losses by six, three, two and now three points.
"We're right there. We just need to make plays down the stretch," Wayland coach
Ty Harrelson said. "I'll take responsibility for that."
Coming off a 76-75 win over No. 16 Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Saturday that snapped a four-game slide, Wayland (12-8, 4-5 SAC) was hoping to pick up another big road win. Instead, the Pioneers -- debuting new black uniforms -- found themselves trailing by double digits and having to fight their way back, as they've done more times than not of late.
WBU trailed by as many as 13, 53-40, with 12:17 left in the game before the Pioneers worked their way back in it on the strength of seven straight points, cutting the deficit to 62-60 with 2½ minutes to go.
Jamil Donovan responded for OCU (9-6, 6-3) with a 3-pointer, then a traditional 3-point play by Wayland's
Robert Waters took it back to a two-point game with 43 seconds left. The Stars' Lou Dunbar made 1-of-2 free throws, then after
Jordan Tolbert made a layup the Pioneers' deficit was just one.
Wayland put Dunbar back on the line, and this time he made both. On the other end, the Pioneers'
Anietie Jack grabbed an offensive rebound and after a dunk it was 68-67 with 11 ticks showing.
Three seconds later OCU's Terence Bonhomme, who finished 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, hit two clutch foul shots, forcing Wayland to hit a 3 to tie and force overtime. Unfortunately for the Pioneers, Waters' contested attempt was off the mark.
"It wasn't a great look because OCU played great defense on the play," Harrelson said.
OCU won it at the free-throw line where the Stars made 14-of-17 (82 percent) compared to Wayland's 15-of-27 (55.6 percent).
"You're not going to shoot 55 percent from the free-throw line and win in the league. That's been a bit of a back-breaker for us all season," Harrelson said. "Especially in close games, you have to knock them down.
"I'm confident in our guys to step up and shoot them," he added. "We can make free throws. We just didn't do it today."
Both teams made six 3-pointers, Wayland on 20 attempts and OCU on 12.
OCU won the rebounding battle, 39-32, with the Pioneers turning the ball over three fewer times than the Stars, 24-21.
Harrelson said the combination of "missing 12 free throws, being out-rebounded and having 21 turnovers" ultimately as too much to overcome.
Waters and Tolbert tied for team-high honors for the Pioneers with 15 points apiece, while Jack added 11 and
Marshall Nelson nine.
Jordon Johnson pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds.
Dunbar led OCU with 17 points, followed by Bonhomme's 13 and Dorion Gigger's 10, along with 15 rebounds.
"OCU did a god job of going into their posts, and we didn't do a very good job of fighting around it," Harrelson said. "It's just defensive mistakes. I don't think it's a lack of effort, we're just forgetting our responsibilities. I have to do a better job of communicating what we want.
"It takes five guys all moving the same direction."
While OCU was on top the entire second half, the first half featured 10 lead changes. Wayland's largest lead was three points.
"We didn't come out and play with a sense of urgency in the second half," Harrelson said.
The Pioneers next play at 3 p.m. Saturday across town against Southwestern Christian (9-9, 5-4), which defeated Science and Arts of Oklahoma (10-7, 5-4) on Thursday night at home, 78-69. Wayland and Southwestern Christian met in Plainview on Jan. 16 with the Eagles pulling out a 64-61 win.
Harrelson believes the Pioneers – who have dropped their last four SAC losses by a combined 14 points – will turn things around in the second half of conference play.
"I'm confident going into the second round that my team is capable of winning those games we lost."
