Box Score GUNNISON, Colo. – Wayland Baptist came up with a big surge to end the first half and went on to cruise past Western State-Colorado on the first day of the Comfort Inn Classic here Friday night, 89-78.
The Pioneers improved to 4-1 on the season as they spoiled the season- and home-opener for the NCAA Division II Mountaineers (0-1).
Wayland trailed much of the early-going after Western State scored the first five points of the game. The Pioneers were down 23-21 with 7½ minutes left in the first half when they went on a 19-5 run that blew the game open.
Marshall Nelson scored six points and
Russell Harrison five during that stretch, which helped Wayland to a 45-35 halftime lead.
The Pioneers opened a 17-point lead, but the Mountaineers didn't go away. They pulled to within six, 59-53, with 12 minutes to go, although Wayland responded with seven straight points to keep them at arm's length. A traditional 3-point play by Josh Throns capped the run.
Wayland extended its lead to as many as 18 points before Western State made one final push. The Mountaineers closed to with 85-78 with 16 seconds left, but Wayland fought off the final rally with Throns and
Maurice Redmond hitting two free throws apiece in the closing seconds.
Wayland was on all night at the free-throw line, drilling 19-of-21 (91 percent). The Pioneers shot 48 percent (31-of-65) from the field, including 8-of-23 (35 percent) from 3-point range. Western State launched 35 3s, hitting 13 for 27 percent.
Timms led Wayland with 24 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. He had 11 points and 11 boards at halftime.
Nelson added 16 points, Redmond 13 points and six rebounds, and Throns 11 points.
The Mountaineers were paced by Colin Smith's 21 points.
Wayland next plays at 6 p.m. (CST) Saturday against another NCAA D-II school, the Colorado Mesa Mavericks, who destroyed Dine College on Friday, 120-33. Colorado Mesa (1-2) dropped its first two games in Dallas to Dallas Baptist, 99-78, and St. Edward's, 77-61.
