WBU pulls away in SAC home debut

Box Score Russell Harrison and Julian Pesava combined for 46 points to lead Wayland Baptist to a 101-82 victory over Bacone College in the Pioneers' Sooner Athletic Conference home-opener Thursday night in Hutcherson Center.
 
"Our team is very happy to get that win," Wayland coach Ty Harrelson said after his club snapped a three-game slide. "It's conference, so everybody comes out and battles. It was a good team win with five guys in double-figure scoring."

Harrison, a freshman, scored a season-high 24 points while Pesava, a junior transfer, also posted a career-best with 22 off the bench as the Pioneers (10-5, 2-1 SAC) pulled away late from the Warriors (3-7, 1-2). Josh Throns added 15 off the bench while Maurice Redmond ended with 13 and J.J. Culver 12.
 
"I thought Julian played a really solid offensive game, and Russell Harrison stuffed the stat sheet in 18 minutes," Harrelson said of the freshman who in addition to his 24 points got a team-best seven rebounds before fouling out with over 13 minutes left. "He is playing so well on offense I left him in; he was in a rhythm. He picked up two really quick fouls. I probably should have listened to my assistant coaches and made the change, but he had a very solid game, especially for a freshman."
 
Wayland was up by 12, 63-51, when Harrison exited, and Bacone pulled to within eight, 70-62, with 9 minutes left before the Pioneers decided enough was enough. WBU scored seven straight points, including a 3-pointer by Ruben Lopez.
 
However, the Warriors were still hanging around, down by 11, 84-73, with 3½ minutes to go. From there, Wayland began closing the door for good with a game-ending 17-7 run. Pesava had a big fast-break bucket during the run, which ended with Throns nailing five quick points after a pair of quick steals as Wayland kept up the defensive intensity.
 
"Josh and J.J. were good tonight, and Tyrone Davis did a good job of organizing our offense," Harrelson said. "He had solid contributions (six points, five rebounds, six assists). He's getting better all the time."
 
Wayland led by as many as 13, 29-16, midway through the first half, but Bacone recorded a 15-2 run to close to within just three, 31-28.
 
"We started the game really well, but we let Bacone back in," Harrelson said.
 
The Pioneers never gave up the lead, and were up at the half, 46-37.
 
Playing without one of its top 3-point shooter in Marshall Nelson who injured his ankle in practice this week, Wayland still went 12-of-28 (43 percent) from beyond the big arc with seven different players connecting. They shot 54 percent overall from the field (34-of-63), including 7-of-10 for Pesava, 6-of-9 for Throns and 7-of-11 for Harrison.
 
Wayland struggled at the free-throw line, however, going 21-of-32 (66 percent).
 
"I wasn't very pleased with our free throw shooting. We've been kind of streaky all year," Harrelson said.
 
Bacone also had five players in double figures, topped by Brandon Scott's 16.
 
The Pioneers, who were playing for the first time since falling out of the NAIA Top 25 (No. 21), return to the Hutch at 3 p.m. Saturday to take on John Brown (9-5, 1-2). The Golden Eagles fell at home Thursday to Southwestern Christian (10-5, 2-1), 77-65.

"John Brown is very well-coached and very disciplined," Harrelson said. "We won by two there last year (78-76)" before beating the Golden Eagles handily at home, 97-65. Nelson had 22 points, including six 3s, in that game.

"We won't have Marshall Saturday," Harrelson pointed out.

"John Brown is big, and we have to find a way to keep them off the boards. If we can find a way to compete for the rebounds we'll be competitive in most games because we shoot the ball so well."