SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist (4-3, 1-0 GAC) opened Great American Conference play with a 63-52 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State (0-5, 0-1 GAC) on Thursday night. It was the fourth straight year the Bison have begun its conference slate in the win column.
Though tonight's match-up was not an offensive onslaught, OBU put in enough baskets to come on top, including a 15-for-20 (.750) showing at the free-throw line. Three nights before, against Arlington Baptist, the Bison shot under 58.0 percent from the charity stripe.
For the sixth straight game, true freshman Terry Coner Jr. scored in the double digits and paced OBU with 21 points off the bench. Coner overcame his field goal struggles with a tie of the team's best outing at the free throw line (5-7). Additionally, Coner grabbed five rebounds and dished out five assists.
Ricky Brown knocked down three triples for the third time this year en route to 13 points in 31 minutes of work. Brown shot 50.0 percent from the floor while tallying two assists and three rebounds.
Nathan Wilson coupled a season-best 12 boards, nine on the defensive end, with seven points and two steals. Daniel Ransom and TJ Strong combined for 10 rebounds while scoring eight and seven points, respectively.
In the first half, Southwestern etched an early four-point lead (13-9) with 11:25 left on the clock. OBU took the advantage moments later with a 5-0 run before extending its lead to eight with three minutes remaining.
Oklahoma Baptist sustained the cushion until the halftime buzzer, taking a 34-24 lead into the break. The Bison shot just 32.2 percent in the inaugural stanza, while the Bulldogs fired a 47.8 percent field goal mark.
OBU's 11 forced turnovers overshadowed its shooting woes, as 15 points came from SWOSU's miscues.
The lid remained on the basket for Oklahoma Baptist, who shot even worse in the final frame at 32.3 percent. Still, 29 second-half points - 10 from Coner - pushed the green and gold to victory.
Next up, Oklahoma Baptist travels to Northwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday for a 3:00 p.m. showdown inside Percefull Fieldhouse.
