SHAWNEE – No. 15 (NABC) Oklahoma Baptist (15-2, 9-2 GAC) hosts Southern Arkansas (7-10, 4-7 GAC) and Arkansas-Monticello (8-9, 4-7 GAC) on Jan. 30 and 31st, respectively, this week. Both games are slated for 7:30 p.m. tip-offs at the Noble Complex.
Weather and traveling concerns forced the consecutive days of competition which have only happened twice before for the Bison program in the D2 era. Previously, the team played at SWOSU and East Central on Feb. 23-24 in 2018 and most recently at Southeastern and ECU on Feb. 25-26, 2022.
As usual, Todd Miler and Dave Myrick will provide commentary on the Bison Sports Network and KGFF.
Bison Notes
- The Bison have won six straight and sit in second place in the GAC at the halfway point of the conference slate.
- OBU has the 11th-best winning percentage in the country at the moment (.882).
- Terry Coner Jr. earned his third GAC Offensive Player of the Week award this past Monday.
- He ranks second in the GAC in scoring (20.7), field goals (112) and points (352).
- Coner Jr. and teammate Joshua Udoumoh are both ranked in the top three in field-goal percentage too, shooting at least 47.9 percent.
- The Bison are the GAC leaders in scoring offense (80.5) and rank second in offensive rebounds per game (13.71).
- Of note, freshman Christian Hodge, a defensive stalwart, is slotted third in the conference in steals (31).
- In the previous matchup at SAU, the Bison led by five, 77-72, with 2:08 left, but a trio of misses at the free throw line and a couple missed threes allowed SAU to win.
- OBU made just 57.9 percent (11-19) at the charity stripe during that Dec. 6 road game in Magnolia.
Muleriders Notes
- SAU has lost two consecutive games after falling at Monticello 68-57.
- The Muleriders' free throw shooting ability is their bright spot. They make 75.9 percent, third-best in the GAC and 31st nationally.
- Greg Moore Jr. leads the conference making 88.5 percent. He is also slotted second in three-point field goals (38).
- As a team, SAU is last (12th) in fouls committed per game (18.4) and 11th in scoring defense (76.6).
- Plus, the Muleriders give up 45.8 percent shooting to opponents. That's 10th.
Boll Weevils Notes
- Arkansas-Monticello has split its last six games after defeating SAU 68-57 on Jan. 22.
- They rank third in the GAC and No. 19 in DII in scoring defense (65.3). Plus, UAM doesn't foul much, leading the conference in that stat (15.1).
- Furthermore, UAM's defense gives up 29.7 percent from downtown. That's third in the GAC and 30th nationally.
- Jacob Zenon is an excellent three-point shooter. He's the GAC leader in makes (58) and percentage (38.7).
- Among other top individual marks, GianCarlo Valdez is third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.20); Ashton Price ranks third in free throws made (85) and Josh Smith is slotted third in defensive rebounds per game (5.06).
