Pioneers defend the Hutch, hand SAGU 1st loss

Box Score

Rokas Mazionis scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half and Tyrone Davis and Trevonta Robertson scored 17 points apiece to help Wayland Baptist rally from behind and beat previously undefeated Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Sooner Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon in Hutcherson Center, 80-72.

 

Facing the only team that beat them last season in the Hutch, the Pioneers – coming off Thursday night's 90-61 win over top-ranked, defending national champion Texas Wesleyan – rebounded from an eight-point, first-half deficit then held off a late charge by the Lions to improve to 9-1 overall, 2-0 in conference, and 5-0 at home.

 

"I challenged them at halftime to be tough and match the intensity that SAGU came out with, and I think we did," Wayland coach Ty Harrelson said. "They were the only team that came in here and beat us last year and one of just (three) teams to beat us twice, so this was a very good win for us."

 

Wayland overcame 27 turnovers and took 25 fewer shots than the Lions (6-1, 1-1 SAC), ranked the equivalent of 32^nd in the NAIA.

 

"In the first half they got a lot of second-chance opportunities. I'd say they got very few in the second half," Harrelson said.

 

With an inside-your-face, pressure defense, SAGU, which ended with 16 steals, surged to a 37-29 lead with 4½ minutes left in the first half.

 

"They got a couple of breakaway layups and jumped out on us," Harrelson said. "Coach Deal (first-year SAGU coach Delbert Deal) does a really good job with his team. They were in passing lanes, they were quick to the ball… Give them a lot of credit. That's why they're undefeated.

 

"I thought we played really poorly in the first half," Harrelson added. "Some of it was our offense, which led to some fast-breaks for SAGU. The frustrating thing was we prepared and worked on handling that pressure. We also missed 6-of-12 free throws in the first half, and two of those were front ends to 1-and-1s."

 

Still, Wayland trailed just 42-39 at intermission, and the Pioneers came out much more determined in the second half.

 

Wayland managed to take a seven-point lead before the Lions fought back and tied it at 62. The Pioneers then went on a 12-2 run – with Mazionis hitting three buckets, Robertson a 3-pointer, and Davis contributing three points – to lead 74-64 with 1½ minutes to go.

 

SAGU made one more push, pulling to within 76-72 with 33 seconds left. But the Pioneers iced it at the free throw line where Wayland tallied its last seven points, including a 4-of-4 effort by Ruben Lopez in the final minute. Lopez finished 8-of-10 at the stripe toward his 13 points.

 

"Ruben sprained his ankle pretty good in the first half, but he knew we needed him in there so he was tough and finished it out," Harrelson said.

 

The coach credited Mazionis for fueling much of Wayland's rally.

 

"A big part of it was Rokas. He really turned it up on the second half. He was really tough inside. Tyrone Davis really came through, too. In crunch time those guys were really good."

 

So was J.J. Culver, who ended with nine points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, four steals and a block.

 

"J.J. was all over the place, and Trevonta does what he always does," said Harrelson, who also pointed out the six rebounds and four blocks by Marko Zelic. "Those are some things that don't always show up big, but they add up."

 

SAGU shot just 31 percent (25-of-80), including an anemic 22 percent (9-of-41) in the second half.

 

"If they shot the ball well we'd be in trouble," Harrelson said. "I guess that might have been great defense on our part."

 

The Pioneers have a week off before taking on Southwestern Christian Dec. 16 to start a four-game road swing, which includes an exhibition against Tarleton State on Dec. 19, followed by games at John Brown and Bacone. Wayland's next home game is Jan. 11 against Science and Arts of Oklahoma.

 

"To be 9-1 this early in the season and win your first two conference games is exciting," Harrelson said.