MONTICELLO, Ark. – The 15th-ranked (NABC) Oklahoma Baptist Bison kept its perfect season intact Thursday night, powering past Arkansas–Monticello 71–57 to move to 7–0 and open GAC play at 1–0. The victory extends the Bison's best start of their NCAA era and reinforces their early-season momentum.
OBU controlled the pace early, taking a 35–26 lead at halftime after building as large as a 15-point advantage. The Bison were fueled by 12 first-half points from
Seth Grandberry, who helped spark a 31–16 margin before
Erik Madrid's jumper with 4:32 left capped the run. Josh Smith kept Arkansas–Monticello afloat, scoring eight in the half and trimming the deficit back to single digits heading into the break.
Smith carried that momentum into the second half, knocking down his first two shots to cut the margin to 36–30. The Bison answered quickly, pushing the lead back to double digits each time Monticello threatened. OBU's steady defensive pressure and timely scoring allowed them to stay in control throughout the second half, ultimately securing a 71–57 victory.
Terry Coner Jr. led the way with 19 points, four assists and five rebounds, orchestrating the offense.
Erik Madrid delivered a dominant interior performance, posting a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double along with two blocks and a steal. The Bison's balanced attack and consistent stops proved too much for Monticello, as OBU improved with a strong all-around showing.
Up next for the Bison is a 3 p.m. matchup in Magnolia against Southern Arkansas.
