Box Score ESPANOLA, N.M. – For a variety of reasons,
Ty Harrelson called it an "ugly win," making sure to stress the "win."
"We'll take it," the Wayland Baptist coach said after his Pioneers prevailed over University of the Southwest in the Ohkay Owingeh Classic here Friday night, 81-78.
Josh Throns scored 23 points and
Trevonta Robertson 20 to lead the Pioneers (2-0), who also won their season-opener on Thursday over classic host Northern New Mexico College, 94-85. USW and NNMC meet Saturday.
Wayland led the Eagles, who were making their season debut, at halftime, 34-28.
"We played great defense in the first half," said Harrelson, who credited freshman
Tre Fillmore. "Tre took two offensive fouls, which was great. That was probably the key to our defense. I think we took four charges in the first half."
The Eagles almost doubled their intermission point total in the second half to make a game of it, but Wayland senior
Ruben Lopez – after USW called two timeouts to ice him – hit a pair of clutch free throws with nine seconds left. The Mustangs then missed a series of desperation 3-pointers in the final seconds.
"We gave up 50 (points) in the second half, which is entirely too many," Harrelson said. "Southwest made some really tough shots and got themselves to the free throw line (16-of-21 in the second half)."
Besides Throns' 24 points and Robertson's 20 with six rebounds and six assists, Lopez ended with 11 points, four assists and just one turnover, and
Tyrone Davis wound up with 10 points and five boards before fouling out late. (Davis led the team with 23 points with eight rebounds Thursday, followed by
J.J. Culver's 20 points, eight boards and five steals, Robertson's 17 points and Throns' 11. Marco Zelic got eight points with nine rebounds, and Lopez dished out seven assists.)
"Our returners played really well together," Harrelson said. "Josh shot the ball really well, and Tyrone was really good again today. He's played really tough for us these two games, and I'm happy to see him having that success. He was injured for a long time, which can be frustrating, so it's good to see him overcome that."
Zelic pulled down 10 rebounds and "played great defense," according to his coach. "Marco had another good game off the bench."
Harrelson credited assistant coaches
Landon Hughey,
Xavier Webb and
Maurice Redmond "for helping me with schemes and getting us prepared. Those guys did a great job."
The Pioneers now have seven-plus days to prepare for an exhibition game against Rice set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 in Houston. The Owls are coming off a 23-win season.
"We'll see what happens," Harrelson said. "It's always tough when you play a big (NCAA) Division I."
