Tough-shooting day results in rare Hutch loss

With the start of conference play right around the corner, it was not what Ty Harrelson wanted to see out of his Wayland Baptist Pioneers.
 
"Our decision-making wasn't great at all. We shot when we should have passed, passed when we should have shot, and had miscues that cost us second-opportunity and transition points," Harrelson said after the 20^th-ranked Pioneers fell to unbeaten Central Baptist College (Ark.) on Wednesday afternoon in Hutcherson Center, 71-65.
 
It was the fifth win in the last six contests against ranked opponents for the Mustangs (4-0), who advanced to the second round of the NAIA National Championships last season.
 
In dropping its second straight game after opening with five straight wins, Wayland (5-2) made 16-of-18 free throws (89 percent) but struggled shooting from the field, hitting 34 percent (21-of-61), including 29 percent (7-of-24) from 3-point range.
 
"We missed a lot of shots today, which is uncommon for us in the Hutch," Harrelson said.
 
Thanks to some spectacular play by Trevonta Robertson, who led the Pioneers with 21 points, Wayland almost pulled out a win.
 
His team trailing by eight, 68-60, with 38 seconds left, Robertson hit a 3-pointer then came up with a quick steal and turned that into a lay-up, making it a one-possession game, 68-65, with 18 seconds left.
 
After a CBC timeout, Wayland almost came up with a steal on the ensuing inbounds pass but had to foul, and Percell Washington, who led the Mustangs with 21 points, hit two free throws. On the other end, the Pioneers' top 3-point threat, Josh Throns, couldn't connect and the Mustangs grabbed the rebound, all but sealing it. Wayland fouled again and Tyrone Alston made 1-of-2 with :02 left to finalize the scoring.
 
"Central Baptist is a really good team with (national) tournament experience last year. They are undefeated and we found out today how good they really are," Harrelson said.
It was just the third home loss for the Pioneers in their last 35 home games dating back to the end of the 2015-16 season.
 
Robertson and junior transfer C.J. Obinwa, who had 13 points, both shot 50 percent from the field.
 
"Trevonta played hard all night and gave us an opportunity to tie the game late. I'm proud of the way he competed," Harrelson said. "It was good to get C.J. going a little bit, and I thought Jack (Nobles) was solid again." Nobles finished with seven points, three rebounds and a team-high three assists. J.J. Culver also reached double-digits with 10 points along with seven rebounds, tying for team-high honors with Jeremy Betjol.
 
Besides Washington, a 6-foot-6 senior forward from Chicago who was 8-of-9 from the field and 5-of-5 from the foul line, the Mustangs put three others in double figures as they shot 45 percent (24-of-53) from the floor, 31 percent (4-of-13) from beyond the arc, and 83 percent (19-of-23) at the foul stripe.
 
The Pioneers fell behind by seven, 9-2, but quickly recovered and took a 13-11 lead. Wayland's largest lead was five on two occasions late in the first half, although CBC was up by one, 29-28, at intermission.
 
Wayland's last lead, after a traditional 3-point play by Robertson, was 51-50 at the 8:47 mark of the second half.
 
"It's just one of those days. I'm not happy with the loss, but hopefully we got it out of our system and we intend to move forward from here," said Harrelson. "The main thing we must do is be prepared to compete every night moving forward.  
 
It was a great tune-up for the start of conference."
 
Wayland has seven days off before tipping off Sooner Athletic Conference play at home against Science and Arts of Oklahoma (3-1), ranked the equivalent of 28^th in the NAIA. The Drovers play three games before traveling to Plainview.
 
"I believe our tough preseason schedule has prepared us well for USAO next Thursday night," Harrelson said.
 
"We need 12 guys competing as one if we want to succeed in the always-tough SAC."