PLAINVIEW, Texas – Wayland Baptist Men's Basketball has climbed five spots to No. 19 in the nation in the latest Gared-NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, released Wednesday, November 11. The Pioneers, under head coach Clint Galyean, continue to gain national recognition following an impressive start to the 2026-27 season.
Wayland (3-1) opened its season with an 82-65 road victory over New College of Florida before narrowly falling to then-No. 13 Ave Maria University, 82-81, after a furious second-half comeback. Since returning to Plainview, the Pioneers have dominated their home competition, posting consecutive 40-point victories over Northern New Mexico College (100-60) and Tabor College (103-63).
The Pioneers have showcased their offensive depth early in the season, averaging 91.5 points per game while holding opponents to 67.5. Wayland knocked down 18 three-pointers in its victory over Northern New Mexico and followed that performance with 56 points in the paint and 53 bench points against Tabor.
Several Pioneers have made significant contributions to the team's early success. Julian Perez leads Wayland in scoring at 14.0 points per game, while Jonathan Williams is averaging 11.5 points and recently recorded a season-high 19 points against Tabor, connecting on five three-pointers. Isaiah Foster has helped direct the offense with 4.0 assists per game, while senior Jordan Logan earned Sooner Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors following standout performances against New College of Florida and Ave Maria.
Wayland is one of three Sooner Athletic Conference programs ranked in the national Top 25, joining No. 7 Nelson University (Texas) and No. 21 Langston University (Okla.). The conference's representation highlights the competitive strength of the SAC as teams prepare to begin conference play.
UP NEXT: The No. 19 Pioneers will open Sooner Athletic Conference play on Thursday, November 19, when they travel to Oklahoma City to face Mid-America Christian University. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CST.
