SHAWNEE – The Oklahoma Baptist men's basketball program announced its official 2020-21 schedule after the Great American Conference came out with an updated schedule due to COVID-19.
The GAC will still compete in a double round-robin format, but will eliminate non-conference contests. The season opens on Friday, Nov. 13, as OBU takes on East Central on the road in Ada. The 22-game season represents the maximum playable contests set forth by the NCAA earlier in May.
"We are so appreciative of all the hard work and thoughtfulness the Great American Conference staff put into finalizing our men's basketball schedule for next season," said third year head coach Jason Eaker. "With the NCAA reducing the maximum number of contests, in my opinion, it's going be even more exciting and competitively challenging next season."
Following the East Central road contest, OBU will return to the Noble Complex beginning Nov. 17 with a matchup against Southeastern Oklahoma State to begin a four-game home stand. The Bison will follow with a rematch of the 2020 GAC title game against Henderson State on Nov. 27, followed by Ouachita on Nov. 29, and Northwestern Oklahoma State on Dec. 3. OBU closes the 2020 portion of its schedule against Southwestern Oklahoma State on Dec. 5.
The 2021 portion of the schedule opens with three of four games on the road, beginning at Harding and at Arkansas Tech on Jan. 7 and Jan. 9. The Bison take on rival Southern Nazarene in Shawnee on Jan. 14 before going back on the road against Northwestern on Jan. 16.
OBU returns home against Southern Arkansas and Arkansas-Monticello on Jan. 21 and 23 before playing three straight on the road against Ouachita (Jan. 28), HSU (Jan. 30), and SNU (Feb. 4).
The Bison take the next three at home against SWOSU (Feb. 6), Tech (Feb. 11), and Harding (Feb. 13), before finishing the year with three of four on the road at UAM (Feb. 18), SAU (Feb. 20), and Southeastern (Feb. 25), and at home against East Central (Feb. 27).
"The significance of each game next year will be at an all-time high," said Eaker. "As we continue to build our program in the Division II era, our hope and belief will remain strong that Oklahoma Baptist University deserves a program that pursues championships year in and year out. What an honor and responsibility it is to coach and play basketball for OBU."
The 2021 GAC Tournament will begin on March 5 in a location to be determined.
Eaker and his staff completed a tremendous 2019-20 season which included a 22-9 overall mark, the program's first appearance in the GAC Championship Game, and first berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
