SHAWNEE – The Oklahoma Men's basketball team returns to action tomorrow to kick off an action packed Thanksgiving week of Bison hoops. OBU will face three opponents, Washburn (Nov. 23), West Texas A&M (Nov. 26), and Eastern New Mexico (Nov. 27). The matchup with the Ichabods is a single game, while the contests against the Buffs and Greyhounds are a part of the 2021 West Texas-A&M Thanksgiving Classic.
Each will be on the Bison Sports Network featuring Todd Miller on play-by-play and Scott Wanish on color commentary.
OBU looks to rebound after a suffering a 74-71 loss to Missouri Western State last Friday in St. Joseph. Despite the Bison out-rebounding and forcing more turnovers, MWSU put in buckets when it mattered most to hand the Bison their first loss of the season. Senior
Brantly Thompson led all scorers with 20 points while
Burke Putnam followed with 17.
Nigel Wilcox brought down a team-high eight boards while
Justin Tene charted six.
Prior to last week's lost, OBU ranked No. 17 in the nation and second in the D2SIDA Central Region Poll. Both rankings were the highest in school history. The Bison will wait to see where they come in the week two D2SIDA National Poll, set to be announced on Tuesday afternoon.
As a squad the Bison are shooting 44 percent from the floor, putting in 88-of-200 attempts this season. OBU has scored 235 points this season, averaging 78.3 PPG, and have held opponents to 74.0 PPG. Oklahoma Baptist totals 131 rebounds, averaging 43.7 per game, and have out-rebounded all three of their opponents this season.
Senior Burke Putman leads OBU in scoring through three contests, averaging 25.0 PPG, which ranks 12
th in Division II. Putnam is first on the squad in steals (4), tied for first in assists (14), and second in rebounds (21). He scored a team-high 33 points in the season opener against Wayne State College (Neb.).
Brantly Thompson ranks second on the team in scoring, averaging 18.7 PPG. He leads the Bison with eight-made 3-pointers and is tied for the top spot in assists (14). Thompson totals three steals and is shooting 10-of-14 (71.4%) from the charity stripe. Junior
Nigel Wilcox has brought down a team-best 25 rebounds to compliment his 7.7 scoring average while
Justin Tene is third on the squad with 19 boards.
Washburn enters Tuesday evening as the No. 22 ranked team in the latest D2SIDA Poll and is No. 11 in the NABC rankings. The Ichabods are 2-2 overall, earning wins over then-No. 15 Northern State and Baker University. WU was picked to finish second in both the MIAA Coaches and Media Preseason Polls, after winning the MIAA tournament last season. The Ichabods returned four out of five starters a part of their 20-7 2020-21 squad.
Junior guard Jalen Lewis, the second leading scorer from last season, heads WU in scoring (12.3 PPG) and is tied for second on the team in rebounds (15). He is also tied for second in 3-pointers made (7) and has been perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. Freshman guard Michael Keegan is second in scoring (10.3 PPG) and leads the team with seven steals. Freshman Forward Andrew Orr has brought down a team-best 16 boards to go along with 5.5 PPG while Jeremy Harrell leads the Ichabods in 3-pointers made (8).
Head Coach Brett Ballard is in his fifth season with WU, having guided Washburn to NCAA postseason tournament appearances in three of his first four seasons. Ballard holds a 82-38 overall record, including a 45-15 mark in MIAA play.
On Friday, the Bison will head over to Canyon, TX to compete in the Pak-A-Sak West-Texas Thanksgiving Classic. OBU drew No. 1 (D2SIDA) West-Texas A&M first to kickstart their weekend with a 5:00 p.m. tip. The Buffs currently hold a 5-1 record, with their one loss coming against No. 9 Lubbock Christian. WT debuted a No. 3 in both the D2SIDA and NABC Preseason Polls, as they've returned seven letterwinners from least season's 19-3 squad. The Buffs were also picked second in the Lone Star Conference Preseason Poll.
Guards Larry Wise and Julius Brown head the star-studded WT lineup. Wise is averaging 16.7 PPG and has made good on 20 of his 22 free-throw attempts. Brown is scoring 15.7 PPG and leads the squad in steals (12). Sophomore guard Zach Toussaint rounds off the Buff double-digit scorers, averaging 12.7 PPG and has recorded a team-best 12 3-pointers this season. Sophomore guard Hayden Blankley is tied with Wise for most rebounds (36) on the team.
Head Coach Tom Brown is in his eighth season with the Buffs, as he has built an 181-43 overall record at the helm. In his time, WT has made an appearance in the NCAA DII Championship and won the Lone Star Conference four consecutive times.
The Bison will conclude their week on Saturday against Eastern New Mexico at 7:30 p.m. The Greyhounds are 1-2 on the year, and are coming off their first win of the season against Northern New Mexico College. ENMU was picked 14
th in the LoneStar Preseason Poll, following their 8-19 (8-14) mark last season.
Senior guard Jose Serrano leads the Greyhounds in scoring, averaging 16.3 PPG, at a staggering 61.3 percent shooting clip. Jordan James, Adam Hess, and Kentrell Pullian follow up averaging 12.3 PPG a piece. Pullian has recorded a team-best 15 assists and ranks second in rebounds (17). Forward Yosnier Cobas rounds off the double-digit scorers, averaging 12.0 PPG, and has pulled down a team-high 22 boards.
Brent Owen began his second season as the Head Coach of the Greyhounds, having joined the squad following a nine-year tenue as an assistant coach at the University of Southern Indiana.
