PLAINVIEW --- Wayland Baptist delivered one of its most complete performances of the season on Thursday night, rolling past Science and Arts, 107–79, in front of the home crowd in Plainview. The Pioneers controlled the game from start to finish, showcasing balance, efficiency, and defensive intensity in a statement victory.
From the opening tip, Wayland Baptist set the tone with pace and precision. The Pioneers jumped out early behind strong ball movement and perimeter shooting, building a double-digit lead midway through the first half.
Jamari Lawrence ignited the offense with a barrage of three-pointers, while
Marcus Green and
Brett Leach added consistent scoring to keep the pressure on the Drovers.
Wayland carried a 55–43 advantage into halftime, fueled by shooting over 50 percent from the field and connecting on nine three-pointers in the opening 20 minutes. Defensively, the Pioneers forced turnovers and limited second-chance opportunities, preventing Science and Arts from gaining momentum.
The second half was all Wayland Baptist.
Coming out of the locker room, the Pioneers elevated their intensity, opening the period with a quick run that pushed the lead beyond 20 points. Lawrence continued to attack from deep and off the dribble, while Green dominated in the paint and in transition. Leach stretched the defense with timely shots from beyond the arc, and the interior presence of
Chuks Ejiofor and
Niels Guinchard helped control the boards.
Wayland's efficiency was on full display, as the Pioneers shot better than 65 percent in the second half and continued to share the ball, finishing with 25 assists on 40 made field goals. The ball movement created open looks throughout the night and kept Science and Arts scrambling defensively.
Lawrence led all scorers with 33 points, knocking down seven three-pointers and adding six assists in a dynamic all-around performance. Green followed with 24 points and five assists, providing a steady presence on both ends of the floor. Leach added 21 points on an ultra-efficient shooting night (6-8 from deep), while
Julian Perez and
Niels Guinchard chipped in key contributions off the bench.
Defensively, Wayland Baptist remained locked in for all 40 minutes, recording 10 steals and 10 blocked shots. The Pioneers turned those stops into fast-break opportunities and points off turnovers, further widening the gap as the game progressed.
The victory improves Wayland Baptist to 21–6 overall and 15–6 in conference play.
The Pioneers will host Senior Day on Saturday, February 21
st, against Mid-America Christian at 4:00 PM inside the Hutcherson Center.
