- Wayland Baptist 86-73 USAO
Wayland Baptist Pioneers defeated University Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers 86-73 in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament quarterfinals Tuesday night at Hutcherson Center.
All Wayland starters scored in double figures led by Ruben Lopez who recorded his first career double-double with 18 points and 11 assists. Samuel Kalwanyi chipped in with 17 points on a 6-for-8 shooting from the floor while Trevonter Robertson, J.J Culver and Tyrone Davis ended with 12, 11 and 11 points respectively.
“All the starters shot the ball well,” Pioneers’ head coach Ty Harrelson said.
The third-seeded Pioneers (22-8) shot 65 percent from the field (32-of-49), with Davis going 6-for-7, Kalwanyi 6-for-8 and Lopez 6-for-9. Culver was 7-for-11 and Robertson 4-for-5.
Pioneers, who have won seven of their last eight, had the game under control on Culver’s go-ahead 3 pointer after two minutes as they never trailed again.
Wayland led by as many as 16 before settling for a 13-point (51-38) halftime lead and after the long break, the closest USAO came was eight (68-60) with just over seven minutes left to play in the fourth quarter.
The game marked the final home contest for seniors Kalwanyi, Lopez, Davis and Marco Zelic
“There are a lot of good memories for Ruben, Tyrone and Sammy, and Marko, too, even though he’s only been here a year. They did it the right way. We usually go to the locker room to celebrate, but I thought we could do it out on the court this time,” Herralson said of the seniors.
In the semifinals, Wayland will face Oklahoma City University (23-7) on Friday, March 2 while Texas Wesleyan (22-9) meets Southwestern Assemblies of God (22-9) in the other game. Defending national champion Texas Wesleyan defeated John Brown, 90-78, while SAGU eliminated Southwestern Christian, 96-79.
The tournament championship will be played on Saturday, March 3 with the winner receiving an automatic bid into the NAIA National Tournament, set for March 14-20 in Kansas City, Missouri.
