SHAWNEE – First-place Oklahoma Baptist (9-3, 6-0 GAC) heads to Arkansas this week for games against Arkansas Tech and Harding. The Bison will face the Wonder Boys on Jan. 9 at 5 p.m. before a 3 p.m. contest with HU in Searcy on Jan. 11.
The Bison Sports Network crew of Todd Miller and Scott Wanish will be on site for the call of the games on KGFF.com.
OBU is on a six-game winning streak, its longest since the 2019-20 season when it won eight straight late in the year. Coming into Thursday's game with ATU, the Bison have won four of the last five times in Russellville. Overall, the Wonder Boys lead the series 9-7.
As for the matchup with Harding, the green and gold lead the series 10-6 but have fallen in Searcy in five of the eight all-time meetings.
Here are notes on all three teams.
Bison Notes
- OBU won its sixth straight game after a dominant defensive performance against Northwestern on Jan. 4.
- In the 74-52 win, the Bison held the Rangers to 23 second-half points and 27.5 percent shooting.
- Guards Terry Coner Jr. and Ricky Brown were sensational from the three-point line in the game. They combined to make 9-of-12 as they reached double-digit scoring totals.
- This season, Coner Jr. is eighth in the GAC in scoring (16.8) while Brown ranks sixth in three-point percentage (46.4).
- As a team, OBU ranks third in the GAC in field goal percentage defense (41%).
- They are also tied for 30th nationally in rebounding margin (6.5) and 40th in defensive rebounds per game (28.1).
- Senior Nathan Wilson added two more blocks to his season total which now stands at 21. He is tied for 31st in the nation with that mark.
- Of note, during the team's current six-game winning streak, the Bison are outscoring teams by an average of 44-33 in the second half.
- They are also shooting an impressive 49.7 from the field and 41 percent from three during the same span.
Wonder Boys Notes
- Arkansas Tech fell to Ouachita, 78-72, in its last game on Jan. 4. They are 5-7 and 2-4 in the conference this season.
- Offense has been an issue for ATU this season. Their 68.8 points average is 10th out of 12 in the GAC. They also are 10th in three-point percentage (29.6).
- Leading the team is Cassius Brooks. He's fifth in the league in scoring (19.3) and second with 78 made free throws.
- To date, Brooks is the only ATU player that averages double-digit scoring totals.
- Six-foot-seven graduate student Seybian Sims leads the rebounding front for the Wonder Boys. He's fourth in average (7.8) and total boards (93).
- Tech's best team totals come on the defensive end. They are third in scoring defense (67.3) and are slotted third in fouls per game (15.8).
Harding Notes
- HU has won four of its last five after a 76-61 triumph over Southern Arkansas on Jan. 4. They are 8-4 overall and 4-2 in the GAC.
- Unlike ATU, Harding is very efficient offensively. They are No. 2 in the GAC in assists per game (16.0), effective field goal percentage (56.8), free throw percentage (81.1) and scoring offense (82.1).
- Coach Weston Jameson's squad is also tops in the league averaging 9.8 threes per game.
- Defensively, HU has struggled. They are 10th giving up 79 points per game and rank 11th in rebounding margin (-3.7).
- Rylie Marshall leads the team and is seventh in scoring (17.3) while Sam Smith checks in at No. 11 with a 15.5 points average. Smith is also second in the GAC in field goal percentage (61.8).
- Keyln McBride leads the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.46) and his 58 dimes are No. 2.
- Defensively, Wesley Booker is second in the league with 15 blocks.
