Red Hot Offense Leads Bison Past ECU in GAC Quarterfianls

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - Six different Bison were in double figures including 20 from Jarius Hicklen and 17 from Brantly Thompson to lead the Oklahoma Baptist men's basketball team to a wild 94-90 victory over East Central on Friday afternoon at the Great American Conference Quarterfinals inside Bruin Gymnasium in Bartlesville.

It is the second straight quarterfinal victory for OBU over ECU and puts them in the GAC Semifinals, where they will take on two-time defending GAC Champion and top-seeded Southern Nazarene.

The Bison were an impressive 32 of 59 (54%) from the field including 11 of 22 (50%) from behind the arc and 19 of 22 (86%) at the free throw line. East Central shot 24 of 55 (44%) from the field, 11 of 25 (44%) from deep, and 31 of 37 (84%) from the free throw line.

East Central held a 35-28 advantage in rebounds while Oklahoma Baptist had a 12-11 advantage in turnovers. OBU held a 38-18 advantage in points in the paint as well as a 38-18 advantage in bench points.

Fromt the tip, the action was fast and furious as OBU jumped out to a 5-2 lead thanks to a lay up from Jaquan Simms and a 3-point play from Dishon Lowery. After East Central pushed ahead, OBU tied it back at 11 after a 3-pointer from Simms.

The game went back-and-forth in the first half with both teams exchanging the lead. 

Trailing 16-15, OBU went on a 10-1 run behind eight points, including two 3-pointers, from Thompson to push ahead 25-17. OBU turned red hot from the field, shooting 61 percent from the field in the first half. Thompson knocked down three 3-pointers in the first half while Hicklen added a late one to get the lead out to 41-28.

East Central closed the half on an 8-2 run to cut the deficit to 43-36 at the break.

The Tigers took the momentum they gained and fired on all cylinders to start the second half as they went on a 9-2 run to even the game at 45 a piece with 16:34 to play in the second half.

The Bison responded with six straight points from Simms, Mohammed Abubakar, and Harrison Stoddart to go up 51-45. Simms followed with a 3-pointer a few possessions later to make it 54-47. 

OBU maintained that seven point lead until back-to-back possessions from East Central go the game down to three with eight to play. The Bison responded with a barrage of 3-pointers with two from Hicklen and another from Simms. Thompson added a tough contested lay in to make it a 70-58 game with under six to play.

Free throws would keep East Central close, but the result never seemed to be in doubt as OBU shut down any sort of Tiger rally for the 94-90 win.

Hicklen finished with 20 points off the bench on 6 of 10 shooting including four 3-pointers. He also added three assists and two steals along with a block. Thompson was a perfect 7 of 7 including three 3-pointers to go with three steals.

Simms scored 13 and had three assists while Abubakar was terrific off the bench with 13 points and five rebounds. Rashad Lewis scored 10 points to go with seven assists, four rebounds, and two steals while Lowery had 10 points to go with six boards.

Gerren Jackson led East Central with 22 points while Cameron Talley and Tylor Arnold each had 21 points. 

The Bison move to 21-8 overall and will face off with the Crimson Storm on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off of the GAC Semifinal contest is set for 12 p.m.