Udoh's fast start fuels Pioneers past USW

Thad Udoh provided the first eight points of the game for Wayland Baptist, and the second-year guard wound up with 25 to lead the Pioneers to a 71-64 victory over University of the Southwest in men's basketball action Monday night at Hutcherson Center.
 
Wayland (2-1) never trailed in the game against the Mustangs (1-2) after Udoh supplied the initial cushion. The Pioneers led by as many as a dozen, but Southwest never went away.
 
WBU held a four-point lead, 32-28, at intermission, and it was still four, 46-42, midway through the second half. Right after that, the Pioneers scored six straight points to again take the difference to double-digits. The closest the Mustangs got after that was the final seven-point spread on a bucket at the buzzer.
 
Udoh, who had a handful of impressive dunks and hit 11-of-16 field goals, also led Wayland with eight rebounds. Jaxon Recer finished with 13 points and Gage Hulse seven. Jordan Brannon netted five points and as many assists. Jibrael Washington pulled down six boards.
 
Brandon Meadows led three Mustangs in double figures with 19 points.
 
Wayland shot 53 percent (29-of-55) from the field, compared to USW's 43 percent (22-of-51). The Pioneers prevailed despite suffering one more turnover (16-to-15) and shooting half as many free throws. Wayland was 9-of-13 from the foul stripe while the Mustangs were 14-of-26.

The teams will meet against in a little more than a month in Hobbs, N.M.
 
The game was Wayland's final home contest before opening Sooner Athletic Conference play Nov. 18 in the Hutch against Southwestern Christian. Wayland has two more road games before their SAC debut, Friday in Austin against Huston-Tillotson and Saturday in San Antonio against Our Lady of the Lake. Both games tip at 6 p.m.