SHAWNEE – Ethan Scott scored a career-high 22 points and
Daniel Ransom posted a double-double during Oklahoma Baptist's 75-72 victory over Henderson State on Saturday.
OBU improved to 11-5 overall and 8-2 in the Great American Conference with the win. The team's next game comes Jan. 23 at Southern Nazarene (12-2, 9-1 GAC), the current first-place squad.
Scott drained six 3-pointers in the contest while Ransom went for season-bests in points (18) and boards (10). Plus, Ransom was perfect at the foul line, going 12-12. As a team, OBU held a 30-11 bench points advantage, outrebounded the Reddies 46-38 and held a 15-10 second-chance points lead.
Within five minutes of the first half, Matthew Mayes' free throw had the Reddies up 14-4. Despite a rocky start, OBU rallied back. Later down 21-12, the green and gold dialed up an 11-1 run.
Efe Sekeroglu started the stretch with a dunk before Scott swished through a left-wing three-ball to give the hosts a 23-22 lead at 6:33. By halftime, the Bison led 33-32.
In the second half, free throw shooting was off the charts. In fact, OBU went 15-of-17 while HSU posted an 11-of-15 mark. By game's end, with officials calling a whopping 40 fouls, the Bison made 21 foul shots while the Reddies sunk 18.
Competition went back and forth again as well. At the 14:28 mark, Henderson led by seven, 45-38, after a Braydon Redd layup. But again, the Bison dug deep and went forward. Seven minutes later, OBU regained the lead, 55-54, following two Ransom freebies. In that second stanza, Ransom was a perfect 10-for-10.
Once more though, Oklahoma Baptist was down, 59-55, but it would close the final 6:52 scoring 20 points. Nate Wilson tallied seven points, Ransom made six free throws, Scott contributed five points and
Joshua Udoumoh added a bucket.
As for HSU, it made four-of-its-last-12 shots, turned it over three times and could not keep pace with OBU's free throw ability. However, down by three late, 75-72, Rondae Hill intercepted a Bison inbounds pass but his near-halfcourt heave with 0.3 seconds remaining went off the right side of the rim and the Bison held on for victory.
OBU will now turn its attention to Southern Nazarene. The Crimson Storm have won the last four in the series against the green and gold.
