SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. --- (RV) Wayland Baptist delivered a complete performance on the road Thursday night, asserting control early and never looking back in a 76–58 win over John Brown to open Sooner Athletic Conference play. The victory pushes the Pioneers to 6–0 overall and 1–0 in SAC action.
Wayland's balanced attack and disruptive defense proved too much for the Golden Eagles, as the Pioneers shot an efficient 50% from the field and forced JBU into 17 turnovers, turning those miscues into 22 points. Offensively, the Pioneers pounded the paint with authority, scoring 50 of their 76 points inside.
Junior forward
Rico Yarbrough spearheaded Wayland's scoring, posting 17 points, including several finishes through contact and a perfect 5-of-6 showing at the free-throw line. His presence around the rim set the tone early and helped Wayland stabilize after a quick JBU burst.
Backcourt partner
Marcus Green added 10 points, repeatedly attacking the lane and going 6-of-8 from the stripe.
Jordan Logan gave Wayland a huge lift off the bench, tallying 11 points and five rebounds while energizing the Pioneers during a decisive first-half run. Bench scoring proved pivotal, with Wayland's reserves outscoring John Brown's bench 30–24.
Senior sharpshooter
Brett Leach contributed 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, including a pair of threes that stretched JBU's defense thin. Forward
Damonze Woods anchored the paint with eight points, seven rebounds, and a series of defensive plays that helped Wayland stifle JBU's interior offense.
After trailing 9–5 early, Wayland erupted on a 23–5 run fueled by tough defense and transition buckets. Logan, Leach, and
Chuks Ejiofor all hit timely perimeter shots, and the Pioneers forced JBU into rushed attempts while controlling the glass. Wayland went into halftime with a 41–30 lead and never allowed the margin to dip below eight the rest of the way.
John Brown looked to claw back in the second half behind Donovan Lovelace's 18 points, but every push was met with a Pioneer answer. Wayland shot 52% in the second half, using steady inside scoring and efficient ball movement to maintain control. The Pioneers finished with 14 assists on 27 made baskets and limited themselves to just 14 turnovers in a fast-paced contest.
The Pioneers will continue their conference opening road trip on Saturday, November 22
nd, when they head to Point Lookout, Missouri for a showdown with College of the Ozarks. The game will begin at approximately 4:00 PM.
