Box Score The Pioneers SAC Tournament Championship hopes came to an end on Friday night with a 75-53 road loss to Langston University in the SAC Men's Basketball Semifinals presented by Athletic Solutions.
The Pioneers battled throughout but struggled offensively in the first half, heading into the break trailing 24-14.  Wayland showed much better rhythm and efficiency after halftime, shooting significantly improved in the second 20 minutes and getting solid performances from its veteran leaders, but could not overcome Langston's consistent scoring attack.
WBU shot 35.4 % for the game and saw better success in the second half — 46.2 % after struggling from the field early — but turnovers and defensive stops continued to be a challenge.
Brett Leach and Jamari Lawrence paced the Pioneers with 15 points apiece, while Marcus Green added 12. Wayland's effort never wavered, particularly in the second half, as the team continued to compete possession by possession despite the deficit.
The Pioneers will now look ahead to the 2026 NAIA Men's Basketball Selection Show on Thursday, March 5th at 6:00 PM to see when and where they will play next, if selected. With a 23-7 overall record, 16-6 in SAC play, and multiple Top 10 wins, the Pioneers have an outstanding chance at being selected for the NAIA National Tournament.
