CHICKASHA, Okla. --- Wayland Baptist men's basketball showed resilience down the stretch Saturday afternoon, holding off a late push from the University of Science & Arts (Okla.) to secure an 83–78 road victory at Drover Fieldhouse.
The Pioneers improved to 11-4 overall and 5-4 in Sooner Athletic Conference play behind a standout performance from
Jamari Lawrence, who poured in a game-high 30 points. Lawrence was electric from beyond the arc, knocking down eight three-pointers, including several clutch shots in the final minutes to help Wayland Baptist regain control after surrendering the lead midway through the second half.
Wayland Baptist set the tone early, jumping out to a double-digit advantage in the first half. The Pioneers shot 50 percent from three-point range before the break and took a 41–31 lead into halftime.
Rico Yarbrough provided a strong presence in the paint and on the glass, finishing with 20 points and a team-high 11 rebounds to record a double-double.
USAO came out aggressively in the second half, trimming the deficit and eventually taking a brief lead as the Drovers shot over 54 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes. Despite being outscored 47–42 after halftime, Wayland Baptist answered each run with timely baskets and defensive stops.
With the game tied and the momentum swinging late, Lawrence connected on back-to-back three-pointers to put the Pioneers back in front.
Brett Leach and
Dylan McDougal also made key contributions, combining for 15 points and several important assists as Wayland Baptist executed down the stretch. The Pioneers sealed the win at the free-throw line in the final seconds to close out the five-point victory.
Wayland Baptist finished the game shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from beyond the arc, while forcing 15 turnovers that led to 18 points. The Pioneers also won the rebounding battle, 34–31, helping them withstand Science & Arts' late surge.
The Pioneers will look to build on the momentum as they continue SAC play, hosting Southwestern Christian on Thursday, January 15
th at the Hutcherson Center. The game is scheduled to begin at approximately 8:00 PM.
