SHAWNEE – After spending Thanksgiving week in the lone star state for the last three seasons, Oklahoma Baptist (2-2, 0-0 GAC) will host No. 11 West Texas A&M Buffs (3-1, 0-0 LSC) in a Saturday night showdown. The contest is set for 7:00 p.m. (CT) inside the Noble Complex.
The game will streamed on the Bison Sports Network with the play-by-play commentary of Todd Miller and Scott Wanish. The duo will also broadcast the games on the Bison Radio Network.
MATCH-UP HISTORY
WT has prevailed in these past three meetings, all coming on their home floor. All-time, the Buffs are 7-1 against the Bison, including three victories during the Oklahoma Baptist Division II era. The two programs first met in 1936, a 33-31 contest that went OBU's way.
Following a clashing in 1978, the programs wouldn't meet for another 43 years. That game on January 5, 2021, West Texas won 94-79. The following season, Oklahoma Baptist nearly took down the then-ranked No. 6 Buffs 61-58, but a few late baskets gave WT the win. It was one of the more anticipated contests in series, as the Bison were also ranked nationally at No. 24. Then a season ago, West Texas edged OBU 67-56 in Canyon.
ON THE COME UP
Oklahoma Baptist enters the weekend with a 2-2 record, following two straight wins over Randall (107-60) and Southwestern Christian (93-77). Despite playing two NAIA opponents, the Bison have improved in a few categories through its first four games compared to a year ago.
This season, OBU is scoring 84.5 ppg compared to a 70.3 ppg mark in 2022. Oklahoma Baptist is also better in these columns: field goal percentage (46.9%), rebounding margin (181-151), first-half scoring (179-129), second half scoring(159-154), three-pointers (33), and turnovers (13 less than 2022).
CONER LEADING THE WAY
Freshman Terry Coner Jr. is coming off another 20-point performance, his second of the season, against Southwestern Christian. Coner's 21-point outing came on a 89 percent shooting night where he only missed one shot. His stat sheet also included a 3-for-3 showing from range, an assist, and two steals. Last week in two games (SCU & RU), Coner paced OBU in scoring (16.0 ppg) and field goal percentage (65.0%-min. of 4 attempts), while ranking second in triples (4).
In 2023, he leads the Bison in scoring at 15.0 ppg, free throws (13), and steals (7). He has reached double figures in three straight games, including a season-high of 24 points versus Randall. Coner is the only OBU hooper with two games with 20 points or more and has the single-game high for free throw makes (9). Furthermore, he only trails Jarius Hicklen for the most 20-point games as a rookie in the Oklahoma Baptist DII era. Hicklen chalked three in the 2019-20 season.
This is where Coner ranks in the GAC: 2nd in assist/turnover ratio (4.00), 5th in steals per game (1.75), 7th in steals, 7th in field goal percentage (55.3%) and 8th in free throws.
APPROACHING CAREER MARKS
Trevin Wade played in the 100th game of his collegiate career last week, coming into the season with 98 games of experience under his belt. Playing at nearly all levels of college basketball, Wade has scored 819 points. Here is a breakdown of Wade's scoring career at each of his stops: South Plains College (82 pts), Georgia Highlands (564 pts), Wichita State (19 pts), Alcorn State (124 pts), and Oklahoma Baptist (30 pts).
Teammate Ricky Brown has the next highest career scoring total on the squad, coming in at 622 points in 81 games. Brown recorded 269 points at Valdosta State before adding 353 points during his time at OBU. Already the high-three-point marksman this season, Brown is the career leader in triples on the team. He has sunk 122 threes in 306 attempts at a near-40 percent shooting clip (39.9%).
Furthermore, Brown has a 48.7 percent field goal career mark, including a 50.4 percent clip with the Bison. Also, no other active OBU player has more rebounds, steals, three-pointers, or assists in a green and gold uniform than he does.
SCOUTING WEST TEXAS A&M
The Buffs of West Texas A&M debuted at No. 7 in the 2023 NABC preseason coaches poll and have since dropped to No. 11. WT holds a 3-1 overall record with one loss against MSU Denver (80-79).
Head coach enters his 10th season at the helm and boasts a 239-58 (.805) record that includes appearances in the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four, and National Title game.
A season ago, the Buffs reached the championship game of the NCAA South Central Regional tournament before falling 68-67 to Black Hills State. WT looks to extend its success this year after being tabbed the Lone Star Conference preseason favorite.
West Texas is outscoring its opponents by 13.5 points per contest (86.0-72.5), and are shooting a blistering 49.6 percent from the field. On the rebounding front, the Buffs have bested its opposition in all but one contest, averaging 35.8 boards per game.
WT's success on the boards is due to work done by freshman guard Kieran Elliott, who ranks fourth in the Lone Star conference for rebounds per game (9.2). Additionally, his 4.50 offensive boards per game are seventh in the nation. Leading the scoring column is Larry Wise's 26.7 ppg average, which comes at a shooting percentage of 51.8 percent. His scoring average is fifth in the NCAA. Three others, including Elliott (11.5), average double digits in points. Senior guard Ryland Holt and Zach Toussaint round out the trio at 13.8 and 13.0 ppg, respectively.
