Plainview, Texas – The Pioneers win an Overtime thriller against the University of Science and Arts (Okla.) after
Quenton Coleman scored 28 points and
Tahjae Hill's go-ahead layup in the final few seconds lifted the Pioneers to victory.
Wayland Baptist jumped out to an early 12-3 lead after Senior forward
D'Michael Bellfield cleaned up the Pioneer offensive glass for the putback layup. After the Drovers hit a three to make it a 12-6 game, the Pioneers went on a 10-3 push to extend their lead to 22-9 after nine minutes of action. The Pioneers took a 15-point lead after Coleman drained the three off the pass from
Jahvonta Jones with just over ten minutes until the halftime break.
The Drovers cut their deficit down to ten with just over four minutes until the half, but another bucket from Bellfield pushed the lead to 35-23, Pioneers. Leach drained another three with just over two minutes until half to give the Pioneers a 40-30 lead. After a couple of Drover threes and two Pioneer free throws, the Pioneers held a 44-38 lead at the half.
USAO opened the second half with a quick bucket, but
Meikkel Murray answered immediately with a layup of his own to help the Pioneers maintain their six point advantage. Leach extended the Pioneer lead to 8 points after knocking down another three off the feed from Bellfield. With just under ten minutes left in regulation, Jones attacked the paint and finished the layup to give Wayland Baptist a 74-63 lead. With the Pioneers holding a 6 point lead and just over six minutes left in regulation,
Jaxon Recer went on a personal 4-0 run off dimes from Coleman on both buckets to push their lead back to ten points.
With the score at 90-88 and just over ten seconds left in the game, Coleman went to the line for the Pioneers where he hit 1-2 to make it a 91-88 lead. USAO's Reggie Quezada tied the game with four second remaining on a logo three off the sideline inbound to send the game into overtime.
After the Drovers took a 94-92 lead ten seconds into the overtime period, Coleman used his clutch gene and knocked down the three to give the Pioneers the one-point lead. With just over two minutes left in overtime and USAO holding a 101-99 lead, Coleman once again drained the off the dribble to give the Pioneers a one-point advantage. Coleman went on to hit his third 3-pointer of the overtime period to give Wayland Baptist a 107-106 lead with twenty seconds remaining. The Drovers sunk two free throws to regain the one-point lead, but
Tahjae Hill was able to get downhill to finish in traffic to give the Pioneers a 109-108 lead. The Drovers had a chance to win the game, but the Pioneers forced a tough 3-pointer and sealed the overtime victory 109-108.
Quenton Coleman went for 28 points, 6 assists, and shot 8-14 from the floor and 4-7 from 3-point range.
D'Michael Bellfield added a 22 point and 10 rebound double-double including 7-11 shooting from the field.
Brett Leach dropped 19 points, 7 rebounds, and hit 5-8 from 3-point range.
Meikkel Murray finished with 15 points, 8 rebounds, a block, and 2 steals.
The Pioneers will get another opportunity to take down the #2 team in the country as they face the Langston Lions in the Oklahoma Ford Dealer's Sooner Athletic Conference Semi-Finals on Monday afternoon. Tip is scheduled for 1:00 PM from Fort Worth.
