Plainview, TX – Wayland Baptist hosted the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Saturday in a big Sooner Athletic Conference contest. WBU came into the game tied atop the conference standings while USAO entered the contest in a fight for the eighth and final spot to be in the conference tournament.
As with most SAC games, this one was a slugfest.
The visiting Drovers took an early lead and held their largest lead of the game when they led by four, 8-4, with 17:32 left in the first half. USAO held the lead until
Joshua Tucker sank two free throws at the 14:33 mark to give Wayland Baptist their first lead at 13-12. Wayland held their largest lead of ten points with 8:30 remaining in the first half, but the Drovers battled back to tie the game at 39-39 at the end of the first half.
The two teams traded blows and the lead throughout much of the second half. There were nine ties and seventeen lead changes in the final twenty minutes of play. USAO led by four points, 69-65, with 3:48 remaining.
Quenton Coleman scored six straight points for the Pioneers to help tie the score at 71-all with 1:11 left to play.
Alex Rojas hit a huge three pointer to give the Wayland Baptist a lead, 74-71, they would never surrender. Coleman added two more free throws and the Pioneers came away with a 76-74 victory.
Alex Rojas led the Pioneers in scoring with 18 points, going 6 for 9 from three-point range, while adding two rebounds.
Quenton Coleman scored 13 points and added a team high 6 assists and 3 rebounds.
Brett Leach contributed 8 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds and a block.
Jaxon Recer added 8 points, 4 rebounds and a steal.
James Lee scored 7 points, along with 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal, while Julian Pere also scored 7 points, with 3 assists and 2 steals.
Kabine Kaba scored 4 points and had a game high 9 rebounds and
Joshua Tucker had 4 points, 3 rebounds and an assist.
Adeola Seun scored 2 points and had an assist.
The Pioneers travel to the Metroplex to take on UNT-Dallas Thursday, January 30 at 8:00 PM for their next Sooner Athletic Conference action.
