SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist (7-1, 1-1 GAC) returns to the hardwood on Dec. 11 and 13 when it plays at Southwestern (3-5, 0-2 GAC) and hosts Southeastern Oklahoma State (2-6, 1-1 GAC).
The Bison, ranked No. 15 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, played at Arkansas-Monticello and Southern Arkansas last week and won 71-57 over UAM before dropping a tight contest with the Muleriders 80-78.
For this week's matchups, OBU is 18-5 all-time over SWOSU but trails in the series with SE, 14-8. Todd Miller and Dave Myrick will be on the call of both games on the Bison Sports Network.
Bison Notes
- In the team's loss at SAU, two things jumped out:
- The Muleriders won the rebounding battle 36-29. That was the largest margin in favor of an opponent all season.
- Also, the Bison struggled at the foul line, making 11-of-19 for 57.9 percent. That's the second-lowest mark this winter.
- As a team, the Bison's 64.1 percent foul shot total is 267th out of 289 D2 schools.
- Sophomore Erik Madrid moved back into the national rankings in field goal percentage. His 71.4 percent mark ranks fourth in the country. That currently is the best single-season mark in OBU history too.
- How about this: Terry Coner Jr. ranks inside the top-10 of the GAC in 10 categories including second in points (153) and points per game (19.1).
- As a team, OBU is 14th in the nation in three-point field goal defense (26.7) and is slotted 18th in winning percentage (.875).
- Jason Eaker's squad continues to do well rebounding ranking 32nd in offensive boards per game (14.5).
- They also make 48.9 percent of their shots, the No. 37 mark in D2.
Bulldogs Notes
- Southwestern dropped both of its GAC games last week, falling 77-55 at Harding and 65-60 at Arkansas Tech.
- SWOSU's defense is giving up 67.5 points per game. That's slotted 40th in the nation and sixth in the GAC.
- They also only give up 29.7 percent from deep to opponents, the fifth-best mark in the league and No. 66 nationally.
- Offensively, the Bulldogs have struggled. They score 69.6 points a game. This total is last in the GAC and 246th out of 289 D2 teams.
- Kayden Carter provides SWOSU's best scoring threat, leading the team in average (12.3). He's also fifth in the GAC in field goal percentage (56.2).
- Kray Rogers leads the team in rebounding (6.6), a mark that's sixth in the conference. Rogers also averages 1.0 blocks per game, a top-eight total.
Savage Storm Notes
- Southeastern has lost three of four after dropping a road game to Ouachita, 69-52.
- Defense has been an issue early, with opponents scoring 79.8 points per game. That's 11th out of 12 GAC schools.
- SE also allows teams to shoot 47.5 percent, a mark slotted 10th in the league.
- Plus, the Savage Storm are last in turnover margin (-3.3) and turnovers forced (10.75).
- Individually, former Bison guard Ethan Scott leads Southeastern with an 11.3 scoring average. He also has hit a team-high 19 three-pointers while converting 48.7 percent from downtown.
- Ethan Wilkerson has posted team-highs in blocks (6) and rebounds (46).
- Like OBU, Southeastern has struggled at the foul line making 67.0 percent.
