Rickey Sets Record in Bison Win

SHAWNEE – Chandler Rickey established a Great American Conference season record and Oklahoma Baptist blasted past Northwestern with a 47-point second-half flurry to claim a 70-67 win over the Rangers Saturday in the Noble Complex.
 
Rickey blocked three shots for 65 on the season, eclipsing the former record of 64 set by Charles Mells of Arkansas Tech and Michael Morris of Ouachita Baptist in 2012-13.
 
"We're just riding a wave now of positive energy right now," said OBU head coach Quinn Wooldridge. "What Chandler gives us is a guy that can protect the rim and clean up some of our defensive mistakes."
 
That was only a part of a big night for Rickey, who was 11 of 14 from the field and finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Jansen Hight ended with 15 points, followed by Travon Moore with 14. Vladimir Nemcok had a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists.
 
OBU needed just about all of those points to get the win.
 
After shooting 38 percent in the first half, OBU hit 68 percent in the second half with Hight adding a three three-pointers in as many second-half attempts.
 
OBU had trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half but had completely erased that deficit with 3:11 spent in the second half.
 
OBU methodically built the lead to 61-51 with 2:23 to play with Hight adding a three-pointer for that margin.
 
The Rangers cut the deficit back down to two points with 14 seconds left. After a free throw by Timotis Kuckailis made it a three-point game, NWOSU's Cody Halvorson missed a three-pointer and OBU got the team rebound and the win.
 
Now 7-17 overall and 4-16 in the GAC, the Bison host Arkansas-Monticello at 7:30 p.m., Thursday.