Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY –
Ruben Lopez's last-second layup rimmed out just before the buzzer as Wayland Baptist fell in overtime to 10
th-ranked Mid-America Christian in a Sooner Athletic Conference thriller here Thursday night, 100-99.
"It was a fantastic college basketball game. We had opportunities to win, as did MACU," Wayland coach
Ty Harrelson said. "I feel like we should have won in overtime, but give credit to them. They hit some free throws and a couple of shots to get it done."
Harrelson called Lopez's final shot one he hits "nine out of 10 times.
"Ruben made a great move and the ball goes in and out. I thought it was a fantastic end to the game. Unfortunately, it didn't go our way. It's just one of those things
"I still can't believe it didn't go in…"
The defending national champion Evangels (12-5, 3-2 SAC) scored the final six points of the game to deny the Pioneers (11-6, 3-2) the upset on the road.
Wayland scored the last five points of regulation – a clutch 3-pointer by
Josh Throns with 17 seconds left followed by two Throns free throws with seven seconds showing – to force the five-minute extra period tied at 90 after the Evangels missed a last-second 3-pointer.
MACU hit a pair of foul shots to open OT, but Wayland went on a 9-2 run, beginning with a 3-pointer by
Julian Pesava.
Maurice Redmond sank two free throws and a field goal then Pesava drained a couple of foul shots to put Wayland up 99-95 with 2 minutes to go.
The Pioneers didn't score again.
MACU's Tyler Chaisson hit four free throws to get the Evangels within one with 45 seconds left. After Redmond missed a shot for WBU, Malcom Mann connected on the other end to put MACU ahead by one with 26 ticks to go.
After the teams traded timeouts, the Pioneers played for the final shot with Lopez dribbling at the top of the key. When Lopez penetrated and the lane partially cleared, the junior guard took advantage and drove to the bucket only to have his shot roll off the rim.
The Evangels grabbed the rebound, and the win.
"I don't think I would change anything, except the ball going in," Harrelson said.
The coach said he would change some things earlier in overtime.
"We were up by three and had a turnover and gave up two points there, then we missed a shot and gave them a fast-break layup. We didn't execute down the stretch the way I would have imagined.
"Still, we had the ball in our hands at the end of the game, which is what you want, especially on the road."
It was Lopez who saved Wayland in its only other overtime game this season, hitting an improbable 3-pointer at the end of regulation before the Pioneers defeated Sul Ross State in Plainview on Dec. 10, 102-99
Redmond scored 21 points to lead five Pioneers in double figures. Pesava and
J.J. Culver added 17 each, Throns threw in 15 and
Russell Harrison got 12. The freshmen Culver, who led the team with four steals, and Harrison, who had a team-high eight rebounds, both fouled out.
Devonse Reed and Olajuwon Garner led MACU with 25 points each. Trey Slate added 12.
The statistics were just as close as the game. Both teams had 43 rebounds and 17 turnovers. Wayland shot 48 percent from the field and was 21-of-24 (88 percent) at the line, including 14-of-14 in the second half and overtime. Redmond made all eight of his foul shots and Harrison all six of his.
"We shot a high percentage, we just maybe needed to get there a few more times," Harrelson said of his team's free throws.
Wayland made 8-of-21 from beyond the 3-point arc; MACU was 13-of-34.
It was the first of four straight games for the Pioneers against teams ranked or receiving Top 25 votes. Next up is No. 5 Oklahoma City at 3 p.m. Saturday in Hutcherson Center, although that game could be reschedule due to expected inclement weather. A decision on rescheduled should be made by noon Friday.
OCU (13-2, 4-1), which defeated Wayland in their first meeting Dec. 3 in Oklahoma City, 107-99, edged Southwestern Christian at home on Thursday, 85-84. The Stars lost their game before that on the road against Southwestern Assemblies of God, 76-73, after defeating MACU at home, 100-90.
"We have to win our home games now that we've lost two on the road," Harrelson said. "OCU is very good, but what we can't let happen is let tonight's loss affect how we perform on Saturday. That will be a new day. We'll get better from this and be ready for our next opportunity to play."
