Wayland Baptist scored the game's first 12 points and went on to cruise to a 94-59 Sooner Athletic Conference victory over Oklahoma-Panhandle State on Tuesday night in Hutcherson Center.
"I felt right from the start our starters set the tone," said Wayland coach
Ty Harrelson, who marked his 100
th win and now is 100-48 in his fifth season with the Pioneers (12-5, 6-3 Sooner Athletic Conference).
Tre Fillmore also had a lot to celebrate, finishing with a season-high 23 points, one off a career-best for the junior guard who went 9-of-11 from the field – including 5-of-7 3-pointers – in 20 minutes of action off the bench.
"Tre was fantastic tonight," Harrelson said. "Once he hit one, our guys kept getting it to him."
Jack Nobles was the only other Wayland player in double figures with 11 as the Pioneers spread the scoring around with 13 of 14 players scratching against the last-place Aggies (3-13, 0-9).
"Everyone scored who took a shot; Jibrael (Washington) didn't shoot," Harrelson pointed out.
The Pioneers shot a remarkable 68 percent from the field (15-of-22) in the second half and wound up at 62 percent (33-of-53) for the game. They hit 14-of-22 (64 percent) from 3-point range and knocked down 14-of-17 (82 percent) from the free-throw line.
Gage Hulse and
J.J. Culver finished with nine points each, representing a season-high for Hulse. The freshman guard got all nine of his during about a 2-minute stretch late in the first half when he knocked down a trio of 3-pointers, interrupted only by a 3 by Culver.
"Gage hit those right after he stepped on the court (for the first time in the game)," Harrelson said. "He's been working hard in practice and it's starting to pay off."
Hulse's hot hand helped Wayland take a commanding 27-point, 49-22 lead late in the first half.
The Pioneers' lead grew to as many as 38 late in the contest.
Harrelson also praised 6-foot-11 junior
Deng Bol Yol, who contributed six points, seven rebounds and four blocks. His seven boards tied Culver for team-high honors.
"Deng played well on both sides of the ball," his coach said. "It's tough (on opponents) because Deng and (6-foot-8) Jibrael change so many shots. "I thought our defense was solid both halves."
Wayland had more than twice as many rebounds as the Aggies, 45-22.
"We did a good job on rebounds. That will be a key in the John Brown game," Harrelson said in looking ahead to Thursday's contest against the 10
th-ranked Golden Eagles (16-2, 7-1).
JBU has won its last four since falling on the road to No. 3 Mid-America Christian, 73-59. The Golden Eagles have won their last two in extra time, downing Southwestern Christian, 98-91 in double-overtime and Oklahoma City, 92-86, in OT. In those two outings, Densier Carnes, a 6-foot-6 junior, produced 55 points and 28 rebounds to earn NAIA National Player of the Week honors.
"If we can win the rebounding battle we should have a pretty good chance to win the game," predicted Harrelson, who encouraged fans to come out to the Hutch on Thursday for Wayland's last game of the first-half of conference play.
"We need everybody Thursday. When our fans and our students are there, our guys feed of that energy."
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