GOODWELL, Okla. – In another back-and-forth Sooner Athletic Conference contest, Wayland Baptist ran out of time as the Pioneers fell to Oklahoma-Panhandle State here Tuesday, 73-71.
Both teams' records moved to 6-4 on the season and 3-2 in conference.
The Pioneers rallied from a seven-point second-half hole to lead to take a 61-60 lead on a 3-pointer by
Jordan Brannon with 5:12 to play. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Aggies regained the upper hand just over a minute later and never relinquished it.
A bucket by
Josh Servantez pulled Wayland to within three, 68-65, with 1:19 to go, but a bucket by OPSU then a turnover by the Pioneers put the ball back in the Aggies' hands. After OPSU missed a free throw, WBU got it back but missed a layup that was partially blocked.
After Wayland quickly fouled, the Aggies made it a six-point game by hitting the second of two free throws. The Pioneers responded when
Gage Hulse nailed a 3-pointer with nine ticks left. Again Wayland fouled, and this time OPSU's TC Ellis sank both foul shots before another 3 by Hulse at the buzzer accounted for the two-point margin.
Wayland also trailed by as many as seven in the first half, 24-17, but back-to-back 3s by Servantez kicked off a 19-4 run that saw the Pioneers surge to a 36-28 lead with four minutes left before halftime. That run also included 3s by
Amine Bensaleh and Brannon.
The Aggies closed out the half on a 10-2 run to knot the score at 38 at intermission, then OPSU scored the first five of the second half to regain control. The Aggies stayed on top the rest of the way except for when Wayland briefly took a one-point lead late.
The Pioneers put four players in double figures, led by Servantez's 14.
RJ Mason and Brannon added a dozen points each and Hulse 10.
Wayland shot a respectable 42 percent (11-of-26) from 3-point range – where six players scratched – and a very respectable 82 percent (14-of-17) from the free-throw line.
OPSU got 15 points each from Rayquan Elliott and Jalen Thomas. The Aggies outrebounded Wayland 30-27 and had five fewer turnovers, 14-9.
The loss was the second straight for Wayland (WBU fell to Central Christian in Kansas on Saturday, 70-65) after the Pioneers kicked off SAC play with wins over No. 21 Mid-America Christian, Langston and Central Christian. It was the last conference outing of 2021 for WBU, which next plays Saturday afternoon in Hobbs, N.M., against University of the Southwest. The Pioneers defeated the Mustangs when they met in Plainview on Nov. 8, 71-64.
After Saturday's game, Wayland plays three straight non-conference contests at home, Dec. 14 against Calvary Bible, Dec. 18 against Champion Christian, and an exhibition Dec. 30 and Hardin-Simmons.
