Pioneer defense clamps down in 70-50 victory

Against a team averaging more than 102 points a game, Wayland Baptist knew defense would play a big role in Saturday's contest against Mid-America Christian University. The Pioneers came through big time.
 
No. 20 Wayland held the Evangels to less than half their usual offensive output as the Pioneers rolled to a 70-50 Sooner Athletic Conference victory in Hutcherson Center.
 
"It was a great defensive effort," WBU coach Ty Harrelson said. "We've shown we're capable of it. We probably gave up too many (points) to USAO (in Thursday's 95-88 win), but we came back strong defensively today."
 
After MACU notched the game's first two points, Wayland (7-2, 2-0 SAC) recorded the next 22 – including 12 in a row by J.J. Culver – as the Pioneers raced to an astonishing 22-2 lead. The Evangels went almost seven minutes without scoring. And although MACU (5-3, 0-2) – which came into the game ranked third in the NAIA in scoring – closed to within six points late in the first half, Wayland quickly re-established control after intermission and got back its big lead and then some, going up by as many as 25.
 
"Our defense was better today than it was on Thursday, and that was a big difference," Harrelson said.

Four of Wayland's five starters scored in double figures, led by J.J. Culver with 17 and Trevonta Robertson with 16. Jack Nobles finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double as a Pioneer, and Rokas Mazionis ended with 10 points. That foursome combined to go 24-of-38 from the field (63 percent). Dominic Cervantez rounded out WBU's starting five.
 
"Our starters were fantastic again. They had a great week," Harrelson said. "Offensively, Jack and Rokas were really solid. J.J. had 15 at halftime and Trevonta scored 16 in the second half. They're like a two-headed monster."

Nine of Wayland's 11 players logged double-digit minutes.

"It was another great team win" Harrelson said. "We have multiple guys contributing."

Much like in Thursday's victory, the Pioneers led in every statistical category except blocks.

"When you do that you have a pretty good chance to win a lot of games," Harrelson said.

Wayland dominated the boards, outrebounding the Evangels, 39-26. The Pioneers allowed no second-chance points and got 23 points off 20 MACU turnovers.

MACU, which put up 118 points in a 48-point victory over Nebraska Christian seven days ago, shot just 24 percent (6-of-25) in the second half, and only one Evangel scored more than eight points (Justin Bogle had 13).

"Coach (Landon) Hughey and Coach (Ruben) Lopez did a great job scouting," Harrelson said.
 
Another assistant coach, Xavier Webb, was missing due to a death in the family, and Harrelson said the team was thinking about him. "They wanted to win for him."
 
It was Wayland's last home game in more than a month, not counting an exhibition against Pioneer alumni on Dec. 29. With a week off built into the conference schedule for final exams, WBU is next in action Dec. 13 at Central Christian (Kan.) (6-3, 0-2).