McPHERSON, Kan. – Wayland Baptist experienced its first Sooner Athletic Conference setback of the season here Saturday afternoon, but not without putting up a fight.
The Pioneers rallied from a 10-point deficit to tie the game with 1:25 to play, but Wayland didn't score again as Central Christian posted a 71-66 Sooner Athletic Conference victory.
"Central Christian out-toughed us today. That's what it came down to," WBU coach
Clint Galyean said. "We have to do a better job finishing possessions on both ends of the floor."
The back-and-forth game saw both teams control the contest at various times. The Tigers (9-3, 4-2 SAC) went up eight in the first nine minutes after tip-off, but a 13-2 run over the next five minutes immediately brought Wayland (6-3, 3-1 SAC) back in the game. A 3-pointer by
Jaxon Recer gave WBU a seven-point lead right before the Pioneers settled for a 35-30 lead at the half.
A 3 by
RJ Mason gave the Pioneers their largest advantage, 40-32, with 17:17 on the clock in the second half, but the Tigers put together a 12-1 run to regain the lead. Wayland found itself down by 10, 55-45, with just under eight minutes to play, but the Pioneers slowly worked their way back in it, getting an and-one by
Dylan McDougal then a 3-pointer by
Gage Hulse to tie it at 66 with 85 seconds to play.
After Central Christian scored, Wayland missed a 3 then the Tigers hit a pair of free throws with 22 ticks to go for a four-point spread. The Pioneers then missed two more 3s in the final seconds.
Mason came off the bench for his season-high 17 points, including three 3s, while
Thad Udoh added 12 points (on 5-of-6 shooting) and
Jordan Brannon nine. The Tigers were led by Isaiah Rivera's 20.
Both teams were 9-of-27 (33 percent) from 3-point range, and both attempted 22 free throws with Wayland making 14 and Central Christian 17.
The Tigers held a 39-24 rebounding edge.
Jibrael Washington pulled down seven of WBU's boards.
Wayland closes out pre-Christmas conference play with a road game at Oklahoma-Panhandle State on Tuesday. The Aggies (5-4, 2-2) defeated Langston on Saturda, 87-70, after falling to Central Christian on Thursday, 91-71.
"Another tough road game Tuesday," Galyean said. "We will learn from this and be better."
