Plainview, Texas – The Pioneers picked up a huge win over the University of Science and Arts (Okla.) with massive Sooner Athletic Conference standings implications on Senior Day after
Quentin Coleman went for 30 points including a season-high 8 made 3-pointers.
Before the game, the Pioneers celebrated their three seniors:
Jahvonta Jones, Rodney Carson JR., and
D'Michael Bellfield. Jones and Carson are both in their first seasons with the Pioneers, while Bellfield is in his second season and was named SAC Honorable Mention last season.
Wayland Baptist (18-6, 13-5 SAC) got in the scoring column first after Coleman hit his first 3-pointer on his first attempt from the floor. Bellfield scored 4 straight points for the Pioneers at the fifteen-minute mark of the first half to trim the Pioneer deficit to 9-8. With the score at 11-8, the Pioneers went on a 7-0 run capped off by a
Meikkel Murray layup to take a 15-11 lead nearly seven minutes into the half. Murray converted another layup off the feed from
Tahjae Hill wo make it a 17-14 Pioneer lead with just over ten minutes until the halftime break.
After a Drover layup made the score 19-16 in favor of the Pioneers, Hill drained a 3-pointer off the assist from
Brett Leach to extend their lead to 22-16.
Jahvonta Jones attacked the basket off a pass from
Jaxon Recer to convert the layup to give the Pioneers a 28-18 lead with just over seven minutes until halftime. The Drovers came down on offense two possessions later, but they were unable to get anything going after Jones applied great pressure and swatted a Drover jumper to get the Pioneers energized. Jones continued his strong stretch with a tough finish through contact to make it a 35-22 Pioneer lead. The Drovers hit a 3-pointer and a jumper to close the Pioneer lead to 40-35 at the halftime break.
The Pioneers opened the second half with a stop and a quick layup by Recer off the pass from Coleman to make it 42-35. After the Drover hit a jump shot to cut their deficit to 4 points, Hill drained another 3-pointer of the feed from
Rodney Carson Jr. to make it 49-42 in favor of the Pioneers. After five minutes of play in the second half and Wayland Baptist holding a 51-47 lead, the Pioneers rattled off a 10-0 run that concluded with Coleman draining a deep 3-pointer to force USAO to call a timeout. The Pioneers took a 17-point lead after Coleman hit yet another 3-pointer after Carson Jr. cleaned up the offensive glass for the second chance opportunity.
With just under five minutes left in regulation, the Drovers hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the Pioneer lead down to 7 points. The Pioneers responded by getting out in transition and putting pressure on the Drovers. Carson Jr. got downhill and hit two free throws after forcing a USAO foul, and Leach converted a clutch and-one to give the Pioneers all the momentum back. With just over two minutes remaining in regulation and the Pioneers up 90-77, Coleman hit his final 3-pointer of the game – a dagger that put that Pioneers up 16 points and secured their fifth straight Sooner Athletic Conference win.
Quentin Coleman finished with 30 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and shot 8-11 from 3-point range.
D'Michael Bellfield added 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and shot 5-6 from the floor.
Meikkel Murray finished with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in 23 minutes off the bench.
Tahjae Hill added 13 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists in 21 minutes off the bench.
With this victory, the Pioneers conclude their 2024 regular season home schedule with an 11-3 record. They currently sit in second place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings, only trailing #2 Langston.
The Pioneers will put their five-game win streak on the line at #2 Langston (22-1, 16-1 SAC) on Thursday night. Tip is set for 8:00 PM.
