Box Score WAXAHACHIE – Wayland Baptist fell behind early and never recovered as the Pioneers dropped a 78-54 decision to No. 21 Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Sooner Athletic Conference play here Thursday night.
The Lions (20-7, 10-5 SAC) scored 15 unanswered points early in the game to build a 20-5 lead, and the Pioneers (16-11, 8-7) couldn't come back. The closest WBU came the rest of the way was 12 points.
The 54 points is the fewest scored by Wayland since a 56-53 loss to St. Gregory's to end the 2012-13 season.
Ahead 41-25 at halftime, SAGU's largest lead was 33 points, 69-36, at the 7-minute mark of the second half. Wayland later scored 11 straight points to trim the deficit to 20, but the Pioneers were simply too far behind to catch up.
Josh Throns led WBU with 14 points, followed by
Maurice Redmond with 11 and
Ruben Lopez with nine.
Wayland shot 30 percent in each half and ended 18-of-60 from the field including 8-of-29 from 3-point range (28 percent).
SAGU, which got 21 points from Keyunta Watkins, shot 41 percent overall and 36 percent (13-of-37) from beyond the arc. Neither team did much at the free-throw line were Wayland was 10-of-18 and SAGU 13-of-26.
The Lions, who defeated WBU in Plainview earlier in the season, 66-60, held a 50-41 rebounding advantage and turned the ball over seven fewer times than Wayland, 24-17.
The Pioneer face another stiff challenge at 3 p.m. Saturday in Fort Worth where they take on the SAC's other co-leader, No. 11 Texas Wesleyan (20-6, 10-5). The Rams won at home over St. Gregory's on Thursday, 86-76.
Wayland will be looking to sweep the series against TWU, having won in Plainview on Jan. 19, 79-77.
