Bison Open Hosting Conference Challenge

SHAWNEE - The Oklahoma Baptist prepares to open up their regular season this weekend as they welcome in three teams from across the central part of the country for the Bison Conference Challenge. Teams will be represented from the Great American Conference, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, all members of the Central Region.

Reserved and general admission tickets are available at the Noble Complex box office, or online at OBUBison.com/Tickets. Tickets will be valid for entry to both games each evening. OBU students and faculty/staff receive free admission with their OBU ID.

 

Oklahoma Baptist Bison 16-14 (14-8 GAC) Picked 3rd in GAC	East Central Tigers 16-12 (13-9 GAC) Picked 6th in GAC	Wayne State Wildcats 21-10 (14-8 NSIC) Picked 10th in NSIC	Nebraska-Kearney Lopers 10-18 (5-14 MIAA) Picked 13th in MIAA
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Schedule	Schedule	Schedule	Schedule
18-19 Statistics	18-19 Statistics	18-19 Statistics	18-19 Statistics

2019 Bison Conference Challenge
Hosted by Oklahoma Baptist
All games played at the Noble Complex

Friday, November 8
GAME 1 - East Central vs. Wayne State, 5:30 p.m. CT
Live Video  |  Live Stats  |  Tickets  |  Box Score  

GAME 2 - Oklahoma Baptist vs. Nebraska-Kearney, 7:30 p.m. CT
Live Video  |  Live Stats  |  Tickets  |  Box Score  

Saturday, November 9
GAME 3 -  East Central vs. Nebraska-Kearney, 5:30 p.m. CT
Live Video  |  Live Stats  |  Tickets  |  Box Score  

GAME 4 - Oklahoma Baptist vs. Wayne State, 7:30 p.m. CT
Live Video  |  Live Stats  |  Tickets  |  Box Score  


Looking Ahead
After a 71-64 win over Oklahoma City last Thursday night in their exhibition contest, the Bison return to the Noble Center to open up the regular season. OBU will take on Nebraska-Kearney in a rematch from a season ago on Friday night at 7:30 before returning Saturday night for Wayne State at 7:30.

Last season, the Lopers edged out the Bison in  OBU's second contest of the year, dropping a close 80-78 contest despite shooting 54% from the field and 42% from behind the arc. Julian Daughtry led that contest with 16 points while Harrison Stoddart was the leader among returners with 11 points on five made field goals. OBU started that weekend 0-2 before turning it around and putting together a great season.

The Bison enter their second season under head coach Jason Eaker looking to build on the success of their 2018-19 campaign that saw the Bison go 16-14 overall and 14-8 in GAC play while advancing to the conference semifinals, where they fell to Southeastern Oklahoma State.

After being picked 12th in last year's preseason poll, Eaker's squad was tabbed third by the GAC coaches heading into the 2019-20 season, a sign of a huge improvement and culture shift in the program.

The Bison return a number of key contributors, including seniors Dishon Lowery and Caleb Norris, juniors Harrison Stoddart and Brantly Thompson, and sophomore Mohammed Abubakar. OBU also returns redshirt senior point guard Rashad Lewis, a Mercer transfer, who sat our last season due to injury.

Stoddart averaged 12.0 pts/gm while shooting an impressing 42% from beyond the arc. Stoddart added 45 blocks on the year  Thompson added 11.3 pts/gm while Lowery had 10.2 pts/gm to go with a team-leading 7.8 reb/gm. Both Stoddart and Lowery earned all-conference honors getting the nod on the honorable mention team.

The Bison have some newcomers looking to make an impact this season include guard Jaquan Simms, a transfer from Limestone College, guard Jacque Brown, a UNC-Wilmington transfer, and forward Kurt Hall, who comes to OBU from St. Cloud State. Freshmen Jarius Hicklen and Trey Green are also expected to log minutes this season.

Lewis led the way for OBU in the win over OCU with 16 points to go with three assists and two steals while Simms added 11 points and three steals. Lowery had nine points and eight boards while Stoddart had six points and six boards. OBU struggled in the first half, shooting only 35%, but heated up in the second half, shooting 52%. OBU forced 17 Star turnovers, but will have to protect the ball this weekend after turning it over 19 times.

It will be the season opener for all teams except Wayne State, who started the year 0-3 after at tough weekend in California at the CCA Division II Tip Off Classic with losses to Ferris State, Concordia Irvine, and Texas Permian Basin. The Wildcats are led by Jordan Janssen with 17.7 pts/gm and 10.7 reb/gm while Nick Ferrarini has chipped in 15.0 pts/gm. Wayne State made the NSIC semifinals a season ago, upsetting St. Cloud State before beind knocked out by Southwest Minnesota State in OT.

The GAC leading scorer returns for East Central in Cameron Talley as he averages 20.5 pts/gm as he shoot 46% from the field. Gerren Jackson returns as well as he was third on the team with 9.7 pts/gm while shooting 41% from behind the arc. East Central was defeated by OBU in the GAC Quarterfinals last season.

Nebraska-Kearney will look to rebound after a tough year last season and returns some key players including Kyle Juhl, who averaged 9.1 pts/gm and 4.4 reb/gm. They also welcome back AJ Jackson with 8.3 pts/gm and 5.8 reb/gm and Chase Winchester with 7.2 pts/gm.

Reserved and general admission tickets are available at the Noble Complex box office, or online at OBUBison.com/Tickets. Tickets will be valid for entry to both games each evening. OBU students and faculty/staff receive free admission with their OBU ID.