SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist (13-7, 10-4 GAC) will by playing from the friendly confines of the Noble Complex this week. On Feb. 6, the Bison host Harding at 7:30 p.m. before a Feb. 8 game with Arkansas Tech at 3 p.m.
Earlier this season, OBU won a thriller at Harding, 74-70, but fell to ATU, 63-61.
With those results, the green and gold improved to 11-6 all-time versus Harding and 7-10 against the Wonder Boys. Of note, the Bison have won six straight times at home against HU but have lost four of the last six versus ATU.
As usual, the Bison Sports Network crew of Todd Miller and Scott Wanish will be on the call of these games.
Below are notes on all three teams.
Bison Notes
- OBU has been up and down over the last eight contests, posting a 4-4 record.
- In that span, the Bison have averaged 68 points per game, shot 38.8 percent overall and 28.6 percent from deep.
- Senior Daniel Ransom has been very consistent in that time frame. He's reached double figures in seven of eight games and led the team with a 12.9 average.
- Ransom has also pulled down 5.8 rebounds, made 43 percent and hit 84.6 percent from the foul line.
- Speaking of rebounding, OBU continues to lead the GAC and ranks 40th nationally in margin (5.4).
- The Bison also pull down 26.8 defensive boards per game, No. 1 in the league.
- Individually, Nathan Wilson and Ransom are ranked second and fourth, respectively with 5.35 and 5.15 defensive rebounds per contest.
- While he's cooled off slightly from downtown, hitting above 50 percent in just two of the last seven, Ethan Scott's 46.5 percentage is eighth-best in the nation and No. 1 in the GAC.
- Wilson's 28 blocks are tops in the GAC. The senior needs just two more to become the first place since the 2020-21 season (Harrison Stoddart, Nigel Wilcox) to reach 30 for the season.
- As a team, OBU hits a respectable 74.8 percent from the foul line. That's 67th in the country. Helping that cause is JC Curry who makes 83.7 percent, a top-four GAC mark.
Harding Notes
- Harding is on a four-game winning streak after defeating Southwestern 78-61.
- Shooting 81 percent on their free throws, HU ranks third in the nation
- At a 93-percent clip, Keyln McBride ranks fourth in Division II in free throw percentage.
- Putting up points in bunches, Harding's 78 points per game ranks third in the GAC.
- The high-powered offense of HU relies on the three-point shot. They take 26 per game and make 38 percent. (Both second in GAC).
- Amidst Harding's offense is unselfishness as they are second in the GAC in assists per game (15).
- Harding's struggles are down low where they average 30 rebounds per game, which is 12th in the league.
- Wesley Booker puts up 1.3 blocks per game, second-best in the GAC.
- Making every shot count is Sam Smith whose field-goal percentage of 57 leads the conference.
Wonder Boys Notes
- Arkansas Tech lost a hard-fought battle against Northwestern 71-66 on Feb. 1.
- Without a doubt, the biggest strength of the Wonder Boys is their defense only allowing 67 points per game putting them 24th in the nation.
- Just like any good defense ATU forces tough shots, holding opposing offenses to 43 percent shooting. That's good for fourth in the GAC.
- Along with forcing difficult attempts, ATU avoids getting into foul trouble committing only 16 fouls per game, also fourth in the conference.
- It's the other side of the court that has caused issues for the Wonder Boys, scoring only 67 points per game. That total is slotted 11th in the GAC.
- ATU's offensive ceiling is limited due to shooting 29 percent from three (12th in GAC) and turning over the ball 13 times a game (11th in GAC).
- Another bright spot is ATU's ability to outrebound their opponents by three a game.
- Individually, Seybian Sims is top three in rebounds per game (7.6) in the GAC.
- Cassius Brooks has been an offensive weapon, ranking fifth in the conference in points (18.2) and 22nd in the nation in free throws made (110).
