Plainview, Texas –
Meikkel Murray scored 16 points and
Tahjae Hill added 17 points, but 2
nd ranked Langston (17-0, 11-0 SAC) use a hot shooting night to sink the Pioneers Saturday afternoon at the Hutcherson Center.
RV Wayland Baptist (13-5, 8-4 SAC) fell into an early 11-2 hole after Langston hit three early 3-pointers within the first four minutes of the game. The Pioneers were able to answer back with a Hill successful and-one conversion and a
Linton Brown layup to make the score 11-7. After Langston went on another small 6-0 run, two buckets by Hill and
D'Michael Bellfield made the score 17-11 Lions with just over ten minutes until the halftime break. The Lions answered the Pioneers with another 7-point run causing the Pioneers to take a timeout with just over nine minutes until the break. Buckets by Hill and Brown cut the Lion lead to 24-16 with just over seven minutes until the half, but the Lions answered back with a 9-0 run to extend their lead to 17 points. Murray was able to clean the offensive boards for a putback layup with about one minute to go until half, and the Lions would end up taking a 43-28 lead into the intermission.
The Pioneers got a putback layup once again by Murray to begin the second half, but the Lions answered with another 9-0 run started by two 3-pointers to extend their lead to 52-30. Murray scored 6 of the first 8 second half points for the Pioneers in the opening five minutes of the half, but the Lions hot shooting night continued as they claimed a 61-36 lead. With just under five minutes remaining in regulation, Hill was able to rebound a Lion miss and push it in transition to a slashing Murray for a two-handed slam. The Lions went on to defeat the Pioneers 86-63 to continue their perfect season and push Wayland Baptist back to sixth in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings.
Meikkel Murray finished the night with 16 points, 3 rebounds, and shot 7-10 from the floor.
Tahjae Hill added 17 points and 3 rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench.
D'Michael Bellfield scored 10 points and grabbed 6 rebounds.
The RV Wayland Baptist Pioneers will look to bounce back on the road against Mid-America Christian University (Okla.) (12-5, 8-3 SAC). Tip is scheduled for Thursday night at 8:00 PM.
