Short-handed Pioneers throw major scare into No. 16 Science & Arts of Oklahoma

Short-handed Wayland Baptist gave 16^th-ranked Science & Arts of Oklahoma a serious run for its money before the Drovers pulled out a 73-70 Sooner Athletic Conference triumph Thursday night in Hutcherson Center.
 
With a COVID-hit roster reduced to seven players (not counting last-second converts from the WBU baseball team), Wayland led the majority of the time. The Pioneers were up early by as many as seven points and were still ahead as late as the 3:22 mark in the second half, 60-59.
 
But a series of WBU turnovers, as the Drovers turned up the defensive pressure down the stretch, helped Science & Arts get out of town with the narrow win.
 
Wayland's Dylan McDougal hit two free throws to get the Pioneers to within 67-64 with 18 seconds to play, but Cameron Hines answered five seconds later with two foul shots for S&A, after which a costly turnover by the Pioneers led to two more free throw points and a seven-point spread for the visitors.
 
The game ended with WBU's McDougal and Javorian Miller nailing 3-pointers in the final seconds on either side of two more Drover free throws.
 
"I was proud of our guys' fight tonight," Pioneers coach Clint Galyean said. "They have dealt with a lot of adversity the past month (missing eight players that would have played minutes Thursday). We talk about TTPTPL (tough times pass, tough people last) a lot in our program. Our guys have bought into that mentality and it showed with our effort and fight tonight."
 
The Pioneers (7-8, 3-5 SAC) had to forfeit their last two games due to issues with COVID-19, and their two (non-conference contests) prior to that were cancelled for the same reason. Thursday marked WBU's first outing since Dec. 14.
 
With four of their top seven scorers sidelined, McDougal, a freshman guard, put in 22 points, almost twice his previous best effort. He did it on 8-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-6 3-pointers, plus pulled down seven rebounds.
 
Thad Udoh added 19 points and eight rebounds while Javorian Miller was good for 17 points as that trio combined for 58 points. Only three other Pioneers scored, all getting four points apiece.
 
WBU ended with 21 turnovers, 14 of which came in the second half. S&A gave it away 16 times, 10 after halftime.
 
As turnover-prone as the teams were, both managed to hit free throws. Wayland ended 9-of-9 at the stripe, with Udoh going 5-for-5, while the Drovers made 16-of-18, including 5-of-5 for leading scorer Cameron Hines who put up 25 points. Hines also nailed 6-of-7 3-pointers.
 
The Pioneers will try to bounce back at 3:45 p.m. Saturday when they host Texas Wesleyan, ranked the equivalent of 39^th in the NAIA. The Rams (13-3, 6-2) were awarded forfeit wins in two of their last three games, including Thursday against Oklahoma-Panhandle State.  The Rams' last loss was to Science & Arts on Dec. 15 in Fort Worth, 84-76.
 
"We have another tough one Saturday with a really well-coached Texas Wesleyan team," Galyean said.