Bison Celebrate Senior Day with Thrilling Victory Over SWOSU

SHAWNEE – On Senior Day inside the Noble Complex, the Oklahoma Baptist men's basketball team honored Brantly Thompson, Harrison Stoddart, and Jaquan Simms and looked to close the regular season with their 13th win in their last 14 games against Southwestern Oklahoma State.

The Bison trio had to overcome so much in their career, from 12th in the GAC their freshman year to COVID-19 ending their junior season short to the trials and tribulations that have dogged their senior season.

What's overcoming one more obstacle?

The Bison held off an unbelievable shooting night from SWOSU that included 15 3-pointers, getting the go-ahead bucket from Stoddart on the assist from Thompson with seven seconds to play.

OBU shot it well themselves, going 34 of 66 (52%) from the field, including 17 of 25 (68%) in the second half as well as 10 of 27 (37%) from deep and 23 of 32 (72%) at the line. 

On the other end, SWOSU was 34 of 75 (45%) from the field and 15 of 30 (50%) fom deep to go with 15 of 20 (75%) from the line. OBU turned it over 16 times to SWOSU's 10 on the night.

The key factor was rebounding as OBU owned the boards, finishing with a 48-31 advantage including 12 offensive rebounds. OBU also held a 48-24 advantage in bench points on the night.

The two teams surprisingly came out slow, but down 5-4 early in the first half, OBU put together a 9-1 run behind five points from Jarius Hicklen, a big Nigel Wilcox slam, and a driving lay in from Trace Boling to lead 13-6.

OBU got the lead out to 34-21 with four minutes to play in the half as Hicklen continued to find offense while Simms, Thompson, and Stoddart provided offense and kept OBU in control.

The theme of the night seemed to be OBU gaining a lead and SWOSU using hot shooting, especially from behind the arc, to fight back. SWOSU closed the half on 17-4 run including a 10-0 run in the final three minutes to come all the way back and tie the game at 36 at the break.

Trey Green scored the first four points of the second half to take a 40-36 lead. After a three from SWOSU, OBU scored the next 10 points behind jumpers from Simms and Thompson and back-to-back 3-pointers from Hicklen to lead 50-39.

SWOSU chipped it back down to five before Wilcox, Thompson, and Hicklen pushed it back to 11 at 59-48.

The Bulldogs used the next five minutes to keep chipping away at the deficit, using hot shooting and forcing Bison turnovers. Eventually, SWOSU got it to 66-66 and took the lead 70-68 with six minutes to play.

Hicklen responded almost immediately with a 3-pointer, but the see-saw battle was on as the two teams exchanged buckets. 

Down 74-73 with 4:30 to play, OBU used a key 7-0 run thanks to a three from Jordan Thompson, a lay in from Wilcox, and free throws from Thompson to lead 80-74. After a Bulldog lay in, another 3-pointer from Jordan pushed the lead to seven with two to play.

As the free throw game picked up, it looked as though SWOSU was out of it despite continuously hitting shots, down seven with 30 seconds to play. However, back-to-back 3-pointers to one made OBU free throw as well as a turnover and lay in with seven seconds to play brought the Bulldogs back and tied it at 89 to send the game into overtime.

After exchanging points in the early going of the extra period, SWOSU would take a 93-91 lead with three minutes to play. Hicklen stepped up yet again and delivered a clutch three to lead 94-93. Free throws from Stoddart made it a three-point lead before another 3-pointer from SWOSU tied it at 96.

SWOSU would move ahead 98-96 on free throws and hold that lead at 98-97 with 36 seconds to play after OBU went 1 of 2 at the line.

The Bison forced a miss with 10 seconds left and Brantly Thompson rebounded and fired a cross court pass to Stoddart who glided in for the lay in and the lead. Moments later, Hicken came away with the steal with two seconds left and was fouled, hitting both free throws to make it a three point game.

With no timeouts remaining, SWOSU was left with one last desperation heave that missed well short and gave the Bison a thrilling OT Senior Day win.

Hicklen was amazing, finishing with a career-high 31 points including six 3-pointers as well as seven rebounds and two steals. Stoddart picked up a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards, while Wilcox also had a double-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, one block, and one steal.

Jordan Thompson scored 13 with four assists, while Brantly Thompson filled up the stat sheet with 10 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Simms added 10 points and three assists while Green scored five with four boards.

Tauriawn Knight led SWOSU with 23 points and two steals, while Bralyn James had 17 points. Damion Thornton, Khobe Austin-Johnson, and Kamden Gipson all had 15 points on the night.

OBU concludes the regular season at 14-4 overall and 14-3 in the GAC. The Bison will be the No. 1 seed in the Western Division and will await the winner of Monday's game between East No. 4 seed Arkansas Tech and No. 5 seed Ouachita.

The quarterfinal matchup in scheduled for Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. inside the Noble Complex. The call will be live on the Bison Sports Network.