SHAWNEE – Winning is not easy especially when challenging for the top-spot in the Great American Conference. Oklahoma Baptist needed two extra periods but managed to finally rid themselves of a pesky Northwestern Oklahoma State team winning 97-91 in men's basketball Saturday at Shawnee.
Antonio Wade had a season-high 36 points and teammate
Davion Turner added 23 as the Bison improved to 9-7 overall and stayed one-game back of league-leader Southern Arkansas at 8-2 in the GAC. OBU can move into a tie at the top with a victory over SAU when the teams meet Thursday, Jan. 24 in Shawnee. Tipoff will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Noble Complex.
OBU appeared on its way to a comfortable win leading 57-48 with 8:46 to play. NWOSU's Treyvon Andres, who finished with 34 points, rallied his team back and tied the game at 60-60 with a three-point shot with 2:23 remaining.
Wade had seven points in the final two minutes, and his free throw with 23 seconds to play gave OBU a 70-68 lead. Andres then forced overtime at 70-70 after he scored on a follow basket with just two seconds remaining.
In the first overtime,
Brantly Thompson's free throw with 16 seconds put OBU in front 85-82. Like before, NWOSU had an answer when Cole Jones drilled a three-pointer with seven seconds to play to send game into the second overtime tied at 85-85.
OBU hit seven-of-nine free throws in the second overtime. Turner was six-for-six and ended the game nine-for-10 from the stripe as the Bison doubled the Rangers' second-overtime output, 12-6.
