Langston, Oklahoma –
Tahjae Hill dropped 24 points to help the Pioneers battle the NAIA #2 ranked Langston (24-1, 18-1 SAC), but the Pioneers fall late 70-65 to snap their six-game winning streak.
Wayland Baptist (18-7, 13-6 SAC) took a 6-5 lead just over three minutes into the game after Hill was able to get a bucket and force Langston to call a quick timeout. Hill converted another bucket to make it 8-7 in favor of the Pioneers, but Langston answered with a 9-0 run to take a 16-8 lead after six minutes of action. The Pioneers immediately cut their 8-point deficit in half after
Brett Leach converted a 4-point play after knocking down a 3-pointer through contact to make it 16-12.
After falling down 19-12 with ten minutes until the halftime break, the Pioneers executed an 8-0 run to take a 20-19 lead after buckets by Murray and Hill put momentum on their side. The Lions converted an and-one with just over six minutes until halftime to take a 3-point lead, but
D'Michael Bellfield came down to the other side of the floor and also converted an and-one to even the game back up at 25 a piece. With the score at 28-25 in favor of Langston, the Pioneers got a reverse layup from
Jaxon Recer, and a step-back 3-pointer from
Bol Tong to take a 30-28 lead with three minutes until the intermission. Hill knocked down a shot with just over ten seconds on the clock to send the Pioneers into the halftime break with a 35-32 lead over the #2 team in the country on the road.
Hill resumed the Pioneer scoring in the second half with a bucket to give the Pioneers a 37-35 lead after 2 minutes of second half action. The Lions were able to respond by going on a 7-0 run to take a 42-37 lead just over four minutes into the half and forced the Pioneers to take a timeout.
Brett Leach and Hill both connected on shots out of the timeout to bring the Pioneers to within one point. With Langston holding a 47-45 lead at the 12-minute mark of the second half, Bellfield was able to score off the dish from Leach to tie the game at 47.
The Lions were able to gain momentum after going on an 11-0 run to make it a 58-47 Lion lead with just under nine minutes remaining in regulation. Hill drained a huge 3-pointer with just over six minutes left in the game to cut the Pioneer deficit down to just 4 points, 60-56. The Pioneers got it down to a 68-64 Lion lead with just under a minute remaining after a bucket by Bellfield and an intentional foul on Murray sent him to the free throw line where he connected on both attempts. The Pioneers were unable to tie the game with a late 3-pointer and suffer a tough road loss at #2 Langston, 70-65.
Tahjae Hill went for 24 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, while shooting 8-14 from the floor.
Meikkel Murray added 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals.
D'Michael Bellfield scored 11 points and shot 5-6 from the floor.
The Pioneers are now tied with NAIA 25
th ranked SAGU and the University of Science and Arts (Okla.) for third place in the Sooner Athletic Conference standings, making these final three contests – including the final game of the regular season at SAGU – very important for Wayland Baptist.
The Pioneers will look to begin another win streak to finish regular season as they travel to McPherson, Kansas to take on Central Christian College (Kan.) (11-12, 8-9 SAC). Tip is set for Saturday afternoon at 4:00 PM.
