MCPHERSON, Kan. --- Wayland Baptist men's basketball turned in a strong all-around performance Saturday afternoon, pulling away in the final minutes to secure a 79–66 road victory over Central Christian at McPherson. The win improves the Pioneers to 9–3 overall and 4–3 in conference play.
Wayland controlled the tempo from the opening tip and never trailed, building a 39–33 advantage by halftime behind efficient shooting and balanced scoring. The Pioneers shot over 63 percent from the field in the first half and consistently attacked the paint to keep pressure on the Tigers' defense.
Marcus Green led the way for Wayland Baptist, pouring in a game-high 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including three triples. Green also knocked down key shots late in the second half as Central Christian attempted to cut into the deficit.
Makhi Dorsey and
Jordan Logan each added 11 points off the bench, helping Wayland win the bench scoring battle 38–10.
The Pioneers leaned heavily on their interior presence, outscoring Central Christian 48–22 in the paint and finishing the game shooting 55.8 percent from the floor.
Brett Leach and
Chuks Ejiofor combined for 16 points and seven rebounds, providing energy and physicality inside, while Wayland also capitalized on turnovers, scoring 19 points off miscues.
Central Christian made several pushes in the second half behind a strong shooting effort from Chris Whitten, but Wayland responded each time. Green and Dorsey delivered timely buckets, and the Pioneers sealed the game at the free-throw line, converting 16-of-19 attempts for the contest.
The Pioneers will return to the floor after Christmas on Tuesday, December 30
th, when they travel to San Antonio, Texas for a showdown with the Saints of Our Lady of the Lake University. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 3:00 PM.
