Goodwell, Oklahoma –
D'Michael Bellfield goes for a double-double,
Brett Leach finished with 12 points and 7 rebounds, and
Rodney Carson Jr. finished the go-ahead lay-up with two seconds remaining to outlast Oklahoma Panhandle State (4-5, 2-3 SAC) on the road Tuesday night.
10
th ranked Wayland Baptist (7-3, 3-2 SAC) were led by Bellfield with 27 points, on 8-11 shooting and 11-13 from the free throw line, and 10 rebounds. The Aggies didn't have an answer for him as he scored 9 of the team's first 13 points and 19 total points in the first half.
With just over 5:30 remaining in the first half,
Linton Brown was able to attach the bucket for a lay-up giving the Pioneers a 32-24 lead, tied for their largest lead of the half. Brown finished with 11 points and 6 rebounds. The Aggies battled back to make it a 36-35 Pioneer lead with just over a minute remaining in the half. The teams would alternate three point makes to end the half, and the Pioneers went into the break with a 39-38 lead.
The 2
nd half started with the Pioneers gaining the momentum by going on a 9-0 run in just over 2:30 minutes to give WBU a 48-38 lead. The Aggies went on a 10-0 run of their own in just under 2:00 minutes to tie the game at 48.
With 6:15 remaining in regulation and the game tied at 59, the Pioneers would rattle off another 10-0 run started by
Meikkel Murray, who finished with 11 points and 9 rebounds. A Bellfield layup with just over 3:00 remaining gave the Pioneers a 71-61 lead, but the Aggies battled back and cut the deficit down to 71-69 with :26 left.
The Aggies tied the game at 71 each, but they left the Pioneers just enough time to throw a transition pass up the sideline to a wide-open
Rodney Carson Jr. Carson Jr. attacked the basket and finished through contact to score the go-ahead bucket with only two seconds remaining. The Aggies only had enough time to attempt a half-court miracle heave, but the shot fell short, and the Pioneers defeated the Aggies 73-71 for a road conference win.
The Pioneers return home to face Northern New Mexico College on Saturday, December 16
th. The game will be played at The Hutch with tip set for 4:00 PM.
