SHAWNEE - The Oklahoma Baptist men's basketball team finally return to the Noble Complex for five of their next six games beginning this weekend as they take on Ouachita on Thursday followed by a big match-up against Henderson State on Saturday.
Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. between the Bison and Tigers on Thursday inside the Noble Complex while the Bison and Reddies tip things off at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. The game will feature coverage on KGFF in Shawnee and live video available on obubison.com with Todd Miller and Scott Wanish.
The Bison come in with a 12-6 overall record and a 7-5 record in GAC play, currently tied for fourth in the GAC. The Bison fell to Henderson State on January 2nd by the score of 83-70 before bouncing back in a big way with a win over Ouachita, 80-62.
Jaquan Simms leads the pack with 13.2 points per game on 43 percent shooting from behind the arc. Simms leads the way with 1.3 steals per game and pulls down just under four rebounds per game. After struggling against Southern Arkansas last weekend, SImms responded with a huge 17 point game including three 3-pointers against Arkansas-Monticello.
Rashad Lewis averages 11.6 points per game to go with a team leading 3.59 assists per game and 1.29 steals per game. Lewis scored 18 points on 7 of 9 shooting at Southern Arkansas including a perfect 4 of 4 from behind the arc.
Despite a quiet week,
Harrison Stoddart continues to log big minutes for
Jason Eaker's club, averaging 10.7 points per game to go with 5.6 rebounds per game. Stoddart shoots 55 percent from the field and 41 percent from behind the arc as he has knocked down at least one 3-pointer in seven straight games.
Jarius Hicklen has been huge as of late including an incredible weekend where he scored 13 against Southern Arkansas before dropping 21 points on 7 of 9 shooting including four 3-pointers, eight rebounds, and four assists in his first start at Arkansas-Monticello. Hicklen averages 8.8 points per game and has come on strong as of late.
Dishon Lowery scored 21 in the last meeting against Henderson and had a nice 17 point game last Saturday in Monticello as he also checks in with 8.8 points per game to go with 6.7 rebounds per game.
Brantly Thompson checks in with 8.7 points per game while shooting 40 percent from behind the arc.
OBU will take on Ouachita on Thursday, a team they routed in their home gym by 18 including a lead as high as 26 points in the first half. The Tigers are 6-10 overall and 4-8 in the GAC, fighting for that eighth spot in the GAC Tournament at the midway point.
Raymond Harris leads the Tigers with 11.5 points per game while Allie Freeman adds 10.8 points per game off the bench including 44 percent from deep. Kendarious Smith adds 9.9 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game. Ouachita lost one of its top players in Matt Stanley for the year due to injury.
Meanwhile, after visiting Southern Nazarene on Thursday, Henderson State rolls into town, tied for first in the GAC at 14-4 overall and 9-3 in the GAC. The Bison caught the Reddies in Arkadelphia, a place they are 10-0 this year, where they fell 83-70 to an impressive squad that night.
Chris Parker leads Henderson with 15.2 points per game to go with 57 assists and 20 steals while Rel Johnson adds 11.5 points per game. Raekwon Rogers adds 10.3 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game while Mike Fofana buried OBU in their previous meeting with 18 points. He comes in averaging 9.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.
Reserved and general admission tickets are available at the Noble Complex box office, or online atÂ
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. As part of OBU Athletics' #OBUFanuary, during this Thursday's games all attendees will receive a Bison Bingo Card. As the games progress fans can claim a variety of prizes for a bingo. On Saturday OBU Athletics' will host "A Day in the Office," a theme night in which fans will have the opportunity to answer trivia questions and participate in halftime games that are centered around the hit tv show The Office.
