SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist got off to a strong start during its first week of competition, winning twice over Northern State and University of Mary during the GAC/NSIC Conference Challenge. The Bison won 83-72 and 94-76, respectively.
This coming Thursday, OBU will head to Pittsburg, Kansas to take part in the Pitt State Classic with games against Missouri Southern (Nov. 20) and the host Gorillas a day later. Tip-offs are set for 4 and 6 p.m.
These will be the first-ever matchups in the Division II era against these programs. That said, OBU has played Pittsburg State before. In fact, the Bison competed a few times in the 1950s, 60s and 80s. The last time the two programs met was during the 1982-83 year.
Here are notes on all three squads.
Bison Notes
- How effective was OBU's offense last weekend in Bethany? They currently rank 28th in the nation and first in the GAC in field goal percentage (51.5).
- The Bison also pulled down 19.0 offensive rebounds combined in the two contests. That's tenth in the country and at the top of the GAC.
- Also of note, the team's plus 13.0 rebounding margin is first in the conference and No. 17 in Division II.
- Senior Joshua Udoumoh and sophomore Erik Madrid drove OBU's efforts in field goal shooting. For Udoumoh, he's the GAC leader and 29th nationally (72.9) while Madrid's 68.8 percent mark is 54th and fourth (GAC), respectively.
- 6-foot-5 freshman Christian Hodge made a big splash rebounding last week. He secured nine offensive boards. That 4.5 per-game average is 25th in the country.
- Hodge also checks in at No. 36 (and second in the GAC) with 3.0 steals per game.
- One negative: free throw shooting. OBU was 32-of-50 from the charity stripe last week. That 64.0 percent mark is slotted 223rd out of 278 D2 schools.
Lions Notes
- Missouri Southern earned wins over Arkansas Tech (80-70) and SWOSU (77-76) last weekend.
- The Lions' defensive rebounding ability stood out. In fact, they pulled down 66 defensive boards in the two games. That 33.0 average is No. 4 in the country and first in the MIAA.
- MSSU's defense of the three-point line was impressive, too. They only allowed Tech and Southwestern to make 10-of-49 (20.4%) from deep. That percentage is a top-ten mark in D2.
- Furthermore, the Lions' 23.5 free throws made per game is a top-25 NCAA mark.
- Here are Missouri Southern's leaders coming into the week.
- Jaden Taylor averages 28.0 points per game, the No. 4 mark in the country.
- Colin Ruffin is securing a team-high 8.0 rebounds per contest.
- Taylor, Isaiah Atwater, Daniel Halldorsson each have four assists.
- Storm Gilchrist has a pair of blocks early this season.
Gorillas Notes
- PSU has played four games up to this point and are 3-1. In their last contest, they defeated Minnesota State Moorhead 94-74.
- The Gorillas have turned opponents over a good bunch so far. They have forced 17.25 turnovers per game, the No. 38 mark in D2.
- Pitt State also has a few top-50 NCAA marks in field goal percentage (49.8); three-point percentage defense (25.0) and scoring margin (12.8).
- PSU has been called for a lot of fouls, though. They've committed 20.8 per game. That's slotted 202nd out of 279 D2 teams.
- Here are Pitt State's leaders.
- Junior guard Conner Rogers has a team-high 21.3 scoring average. He's also made 17-of-19 (89.5) from the foul line.
- Ethan Sage leads PSU with a 6.8 rebounding average and leads with nine steals and four blocks.
- Mason English is averaging 6.0 assists per game. That leads the MIAA and is slotted No. 19 in the nation.
