Oklahoma Baptist overcame some foul trouble and started the Quinn Wooldridge coaching era by winning its first game as an NCAA school, 69-61, over Bethany College Saturday.
"It was nice to be back on the right bench," said Wooldridge, who has occupied the visitors' bench while coaching for Southwestern Christian and Oklahoma City.
OBU led by as many as 16 points in the first half and then survived a scare as the defense turned tentative with a mounting foul count.
"We have to do better on defense so we don't get in foul trouble," Wooldridge said.
The Bison built on a 10-9 game in the first half, using a methodic 25-10 run in which Beau Palmer scored eight points and Steven Green added six. That spree put the Bison ahead 35-19 with 1:40 left in the half.
Bethany took a lead with 4:29 to play and had a 57-56 lead with 3:49 remaining.
Chandler Rickey scored for a 58-57 lead, grabbed a defensive rebound, hit a free throw, got another defensive rebound and scored on a jumper to make it 61-57. Jansen Hight went on a personal 8-2 run to finish the game, getting a three-point play, a jumper and a three-pointer to ice the game.
"Chandler and Jansen stepped up and played well while in foul trouble," Wooldridge said.
Green made his Bison debut with a game-high 19 points and seven rebounds.
"I'm here to do whatever it takes to win and put our team in the best position to win," said Green. "We just have to keep faith in our system and continue to do what we do."
Palmer and Hight added 13 points apiece with Rickey scoring 11 to go with seven blocks shots.
Vladimir Nemcok finished with seven assists.
Jonathan Gidson had 21 points to lead Bethany.
The 1-0 Bison jump right into Great American Conference play next week, hosting Ouachita Baptist at 7:30 p.m.
