MAGNOLIA, Ark. -- Oklahoma Baptist's second-half charge came up just short on Friday, as the Bison fell 80–78 to Southern Arkansas in a tight GAC road battle at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center in Magnolia. No. 15 (NABC) OBU erased a double-digit first-half deficit and led by as many as nine late, but the Muleriders (4–4, 1–1) surged in the closing minute to hand the Bison their first loss of the season.
After trailing 40–30 at halftime, OBU erupted for 48 second-half points behind efficient shooting and dominant interior play. The Bison shot 64.3 percent in the final period and outscored SAU 44–30 in the paint for the game.
Terry Coner Jr. keyed the comeback with 18 points, including several timely buckets that helped OBU seize momentum.
Jackson Greene added 14 points and was crucial during the Bison's surge, drilling two threes and grabbing a team-high five rebounds.
Joshua Udoumoh posted 13 points, while
Christian Hodge and
Austin Coner each contributed 10 as OBU's balanced scoring pushed the Bison ahead 71–62 with just over four minutes left.
Erik Madrid provided a spark off the bench with eight points and four rebounds, including a pair of put-backs during the comeback stretch.
However, Southern Arkansas answered with poise. Troy'reon Ramos delivered a game-high 24 points on 9-for-11 shooting, while Kendal Parker scored 16, including a critical three-pointer with 23 seconds remaining that gave SAU a 79–78 lead. After an OBU turnover, Jakourion Key split a pair at the line to extend the Muleriders' advantage to two.
The Bison had one final look, but Greene's contested three at the horn bounced off, sealing the narrow defeat. Also of note, the Bison struggled at the foul line, making 11-of-19 (57.9) including a few in the final minutes.
Despite the loss, OBU showed resilience and strong offensive execution, especially after halftime. The Bison return to action next week at Southwestern (Dec. 11) looking to reclaim momentum as GAC play continues.
