SHAWNEE – Five Bison reached double figures, including 21 points from Nigel Wilcox, in today's 93-87 victory over Harding (5-18, 1-16 GAC) inside the Noble Complex. It is the most points scored by OBU (12-11, 9-8 GAC) and the third time five players have scored in the double digits this season.
The Bison came out on top to sweep the regular season series versus the squad from Searcy.
Oklahoma Baptist shot the roof of the building, finishing with a 55.9% field-goal percentage and a 42.9% mark from range. The ball club held advantages in rebounds (32-28), fastbreak points (19-2), points in the paint (46-44), and second-chance points (19-14). Additionally, OBU forced 11 turnovers, including three steals.
Wilcox was nearly perfect, missing just one field goal (10-11) en route to a career-high in points. The senior added five rebounds, a block, and a steal.
D.J. Freeman and Paul King poured in 17 and 16 points, respectively. King tallied five rebounds and had 10 assists to register his first career double-double. Freeman shot 8-10 (80%) and pulled down four boards.
Ricky Brown and Bradley Akhile completed the quintet with 12 and 11 points. Brown netted four three-pointers, while Akhile dished out three assists.
Harding's Keyln McBride and Taylor Currie led the opposition with 24 points apiece.
Oklahoma Baptist never trailed in the first half, posting a scorching 54.5% field-goal percentage while limiting the Bisons' to a 43.8% clip.
OBU's lead reached 15 (30-15) after 10 minutes ticked off the clock following a 12-3 Bison run. The green and gold kept HU at bay until the squad went 2:49 without a bucket to allow Harding to come within five with a minute remaining.
Brown put in a triple before the Bisons made a couple of free throws to go into the half ahead 43-37.
Harding kicked the intensity up a notch in the closing half, notching six threes and shooting 63.3% from the field. After OBU built its largest lead of 11 (79-68) under the eight-minute mark, HU cut down its deficit.
With two minutes left, the Bisons were down by two, following a 16-9 spell led by Ramiro Santiago.
Then 47 seconds left, Harding trailed 89-87. Thankfully, Trey Green came in the clutch with two free throws to extend the lead and diminish the HU effort.
Oklahoma Baptist gets one day off before heading to Bethany for a Monday night matchup against Southern Nazarene. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. inside the Sawyer Center.
