Bison Set to Open Season in Nebraska

SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist will once more compete in the GAC/Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Challenge this weekend against No. 21 Minnesota State Moorhead and Wayne State.

OBU's season opener will be against the ranked Dragons on Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. before competing against the Wildcats on the 12th at 6 p.m. Both contests will be played inside Rice Auditorium on the campus of Wayne State while fans can watch on the NSIC Network. 

A season ago, when the green and gold hosted this challenge in Shawnee, the Bison won against both the aforementioned squads. But things will look a lot different this time around.

Specifically, coach Jason Eaker's squad has a bunch of new faces. Gone are the top four scorers from a year ago, including GAC Newcomer of the Year Burke Putnam and program greats Harrison Stoddart, Brantly Thompson, and Jaquan Simms. That quartet combined to score 65.5 percent of the team's points – 1,386 of 2,117.

Despite its key losses, the Bison were picked to finish third in the Great American Conference Coaches Poll in October. Additionally, the Bison received two votes in the D2SIDA Central Region Polls released last week.

As he's done in the past, Eaker, in his fifth year, brought in some frontline transfers to pair with his returners to keep Oklahoma Baptist among the best in the conference and region.

Here's a look at some of the key pieces for the Bison heading into 2022-23:

Returners

#1 D.J. Freeman: Led OBU with 25 blocks last year; reached 10-plus points in four games

#4 Nigel Wilcox: Shot 53.8 percent and led the Bison in rebounding average (5.9)

#20 Trey Green: Career 41.9 three-point field goal percentage; played in all 29 games last year

#23 Trey Doomes: Sat out last year due to NCAA transfer rules

Newcomers

#0 Bradley Akhile: 6-foot-7 forward played in 34 games for Division I Incarnate Word from '20-22.

#5 Ricky Brown: Hit 40.6 percent of attempts from the arc at Valdosta State (DII) last season.

#10 Paul King: Transfer from Alcorn State; scored 21 vs. Tulsa last year.

#12 Caleb Riggs: Transfer from Mid-America Christian; tied school record with nine 3-pointers vs. Langston last February

Scouting the Dragons

As mentioned, Minnesota State-Moorhead begins its 2022-23 campaign ranked. No. 21 in the country, per the NABC Preseason Poll, and were picked second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Dragons garnered the slot after winning the NSIC Tournament and finishing with a 19-12 record a year ago. Its season concluded with a trip to the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to eventual national champion Northwest Missouri State in the NCAA Regionals.

MSUM returns six of its top eight scorers from 2021-22, led by seniors Lorenzo McGhee, Gavin Baumgartner, and Jaden Stanley-Williams. McGhee posted team-bests in scoring average (12.2) and steals (26), which earned him All-NSIC First Team honors.  

Baumgartner, an All-NSIC Second Team selection a season ago, was named the 2022-23 MSUM "Player to Watch" after averaging 11.8 points per game and knocking down 45 three-pointers.

Tim Bergstraser begins his first season as head coach of the Dragons after spending the last four as the program's assistant coach.

Scouting the Wildcats

Wayne State College was tabbed to finish third in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Wildcats return four starters from its team that finished with a 14-12 overall, including an 11-8 conference mark, a season ago.

Redshirt Freshman Justin Eagins was listed as the Wildcat's "Player to Watch" by the NSIC after averaging 16.2 ppg, which was a team-best and ranked 14th in the league. Furthermore, Eagins led the squad in steals (42), which was fourth in the conference, and three-pointers (55) at a 39.0 percent shooting clip.   

Wayne State also welcomes back starters in Jordan Janssen (15.4 ppg), Nate Mohr (12.8 ppg), and Alec Millender (10.0 ppg).

Jeff Kaminksy enters his seventh year as head coach at Wayne State. Kaminsky holds an 80-87 (47.9%) overall record with the Wildcats and boasts a career mark of 532-454 (53.9%).