Plainview, Texas – The Pioneers are prepared to host the University of Science and Arts (Okla.) in the Opening Round of the Oklahoma Ford Dealer's Sooner Athletic Conference beginning Thursday night. The Pioneers swept the two regular season matchups at the Drovers on January 4th and again on the Pioneers Senior Day February 10th.
Wayland Baptist is coming off a road loss in the regular season finale at 25
th ranked Southwestern Assemblies of God University, 99-92. The Drovers of USAO are coming off a 73-60 loss to 2
nd ranked Langston on Senior Day.
In their first matchup earlier this season at USAO, the Pioneers were able to defeat the Drovers by a score of 86-77.
Quenton Coleman lit up the Drovers for 25 points, 4 rebound, and shot 4-8 from beyond the arc.
Tahjae Hill added 12 points, 2 rebounds, and shot 4-8 from the floor including 2 3-pointers.
D'Michael Bellfield finished with 6 points, a team-high 11 rebounds, and shot 3-7 from the floor.
Brett Leach led the team with 37 minutes played, and he went for 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists, while knocking down a couple of threes.
The second matchup was another Pioneer win, with this one taking place on Senior Day, adding even more importance for the Pioneers to get the victory. Coleman once again torched the Drovers for 30 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 9-14 shooting from the floor, and 8-11 from 3-point range. Bellfield added 13 points, 7 rebounds, and shot 5-6 from the floor.
Meikkel Murray went for 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Hill added 13 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists.
In two games against USAO this season, Coleman averaged 27.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3 assists, and an insane 79% from 3-point range on 19 attempts.
The Drover's Cade Allen didn't score in the first matchup between the two teams this season, but he went for 27 points, 4 rebounds, and 6-9 from 3-point range for a solid second game.
The Pioneers finished the regular season with an overall record of 20-8, and a Sooner Athletic Conference record of 15-7 to claim the 4-seed in the conference tournament, while USAO finished with an overall record of 19-9, and a SAC record of 14-8.
The contest is set to take place on Thursday night at 8:00 inside the Hutcherson Center with the winner set to take on the winner of the Langston – Central Christian College (Kan.) on Monday night from the host site of Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas.
