It didn't take the Wayland Baptist Pioneers long to start what they hope will be another extended winning streak.
Fueled by
Tedrick Wolfe's 20 points and 16 rebounds, Wayland used a 17-2 run late in the first half to take control of what turned into an 82-75 Sooner Athletic Conference victory over Texas Wesleyan in the regular-season finale Saturday afternoon at Hutcherson Center.
The win for SAC runner-up Wayland (21-7, 16-6 SAC) – ranked the equivalent of 31
st in the NAIA – came two days after a tough 86-85 loss to USAO that snapped the Pioneers' surging 10-game winning streak. Coach
Clint Galyean hopes the victory sets the tone for the post-season, starting with a match-up against seventh-seeded North Texas at Dallas (10-15, 10-12) in an Oklahoma Ford Dealers SAC Tournament quarterfinal tipping off at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Hutch, after the Flying Queens' quarterfinal against John Brown.
The Pioneers swept UNT Dallas – which has forfeited a handful of games due to an ineligible player – during the regular season, first winning 97-85 on the road in mid-November then 86-67 in Plainview on Jan. 21.
Quarterfinal winners advance to the SAC Tourney semifinals on Feb. 27 followed a day later by the championship at Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City.
The Pioneers on Saturday avenged a 95-90 setback to sixth-place Texas Wesleyan (14-14, 11-11), winning despite hitting just 3-of-21 3-pointers (14 percent) and 15-of-27 free throws (56 percent). The Rams didn't light it up either, making just 10-of-20 from the foul line.
After taking control of the game by going from a 17-15 deficit to a 32-19 lead, Wayland never trailed again, but Texas Wesleyan got close. The Rams pulled to within one on a couple of occasions in the second half. WBU was up by four, 71-67, with just over two minutes to go but closed the game by hitting 11-of-12 free throws as the Rams misfired on a combination of foul shots and 3-pointers before hitting on two late 3s. Five Pioneers –
RJ Mason,
Parrish Hewitt,
Josh Servantez,
Manny Crump and
Dylan McDougal – contributed to WBU's late free-throw accuracy. Wayland had made just 4-of-16 free throws before coming up clutch down the stretch.
Wolfe's 16 rebounds represented the most by a Wayland player this season and his most by seven, giving the first-year senior transfer his first double-double as a Pioneer. Wolfe was recognized before the game along with fellow seniors Hewitt, Servantez, Mason and
Thad Udoh.
D'Michael Bellfield hit 9-of-11 shots for his 18 points to go with seven rebounds, while
Reece Spencer and Hewitt chipped in 10 points each and Mason and Servantez eight apiece. Spencer also pulled down eight rebounds.
The Rams were led by Peyton Sallee with 24 points, including six 3s. Akili Vining logged a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double, while Lamine Komara got 15 and 18.
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| SOONER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT |
| THURSDAY, FEB. 23 |
| Quarterfinals at Campus Sites |
| Game 1 |
No. 8 John Brown (12-16) at No. 1 Langston (26-2) |
7 p.m. |
| Game 2 |
No. 7 North Texas Dallas (10-15) at No. 2 Wayland Baptist (21-7) |
8 p.m. |
| Game 3 |
No. 6 Texas Wesleyan (14-14) at No. 3 Oklahoma City (16-12)* |
7 p.m. |
| Game 4 |
No. 5 Science & Arts (17-11) at No. 4 SW Assemblies of God (19-9) |
7 p.m. |
| At Gaulke Activity Center in Oklahoma City |
| MONDAY, FEB. 27 |
| Game 5 |
TBA |
6 p.m. |
| Game 6 |
TBA |
8 p.m. |
| TUESDAY, FEB. 28 |
| Game 7 |
Semifinal Winners |
8 p.m. |
*Texas Wesleyan at Oklahoma City will be played at Oklahoma Christian University in Oklahoma City
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