All four Wayland Baptist seniors –
Matthew Mulloy,
CJ Obinwa,
Jack Nobles and
J.J. Culver – appropriately turned in big days on the stat sheet after being recognized on Senior Day, helping the Pioneers to an 87-65 Sooner Athletic Conference victory over Southwestern Christian on the final day of the regular-season Saturday afternoon in Hutcherson Center.
Nobles came up one rebound shy of a double-double with 25 points and nine rebounds, while Culver finished three assists short of a triple-double with 21 points, 11 boards and seven assists. Obinwa contributed seven points, eight rebounds and six assists while Mulloy tacked on eight points and grabbed four rebounds in his first career start.
"I'm very proud of Matt, CJ, Jack and JJ. I thought they were focused and are playing their best basketball when it counts the most," WBU coach
Ty Harrelson said.
Also shining for Wayland were
Tre Fillmore with 11 points and
Jibrael Washington, who notched 10 points and matched a season-best with six blocks.
"It was a team effort with great contributions from Tre, who started with our four seniors. Jibrael's six blocks and dunks were fun to watch," Harrelson said.
The victory pushed Wayland (20-10), ranked the equivalent of 30
th in the NAIA, past the 20-win plateau for the third straight year and the sixth time in seven seasons.
The Pioneers trailed Southwestern Christian (14-14, 7-13), a team Wayland defeated in its conference opener on Nov. 21, 77-65, the first part of the first half, but never by more than five.
Wayland got four straight three-point possessions – a pair of 3-pointers by Culver, one by Fillmore and an and-one by Nobles – as part of a 14-0 run that fueled the Pioneers going from a four-point hole to a 10-point lead, 22-12.
WBU was up 41-29 at the half.
The Eagles closed to within seven on a couple of occasions in the second half. The last time it happened Wayland scored the next eight points – five by Mulloy and a 3 by Obinwa – and the Pioneers were never threatened after that.
WBU's largest lead was the final 22-point margin.
The Pioneers, who were credited with 21 assists compared to just 10 for the Eagles, shot 48 percent (31-of-64) from the field, including 31 percent (9-of-29) from the 3 where Culver hit five. Wayland put in 16-of-20 free throws (80 percent) and out-rebounded the visitors, 47-35.
Derek Dantzler-Fulner led the Eagles with 20 points and nine rebounds, followed by Richard Anderson with 13 points and Ron Washington with 11.
"To get 20 wins is a very good season," Harrelson said. "We positioned ourselves well this week for an at-large bid to the national tournament."
The Pioneers can add to that total next week as they play in the SAC Tournament, in which they're the No. 5 seed and will head to Waxahachie to take on fourth-seeded, 13
th-ranked Southwestern Assemblies of God (22-7, 13-7) in the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday
The Lions, who swept Wayland in the regular-season 90-60 and 96-83, have lost three of their last four outings: 99-94 in overtime at Central Christian, 92-87 at No. 23 Texas Wesleyan, and on Saturday at home to No. 9 John Brown, 71-68 in double-overtime. SAGU defeated Bacone on Thursday, 134-75.
"It's post-season and we are excited to play starting this Tuesday," Harrelson said.
A win Tuesday would allow the Pioneers to return to the Hutch as Wayland hosts the tournament semifinals and finals next weekend.
Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament
At campus sites
Tuesday's Games
Quarterfinals
Game 1: No. 8 Southwestern Christian (14-14) at No. 1 Mid-America Christian (29-1), 7:45 p.m.
Game 2: No. 5 Wayland Baptist (20-10) at No. 4 Southwestern Assemblies of God (22-7), 7 p.m.
Game 3: No. 6 USAO (16-14) at No. 3 Texas Wesleyan (21-8), 7 p.m.
Game 4: No. 7 Oklahoma City (15-15) at No. 2 John Brown (26-4), 7 p.m.
At Hutcherson Center
Plainview, Texas
Friday, March 6
Semifinals
Game 5: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6 p.m.
Game 6: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 7
Championship
Game 7: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 3:30 p.m.
