SHAWNEE -- The Oklahoma Baptist men's basketball team used a dominant first half and balanced scoring attack to secure a 79-67 victory over Southwestern Oklahoma State on Monday night inside the Noble Complex.
OBU (22-2, 16-2 GAC) set the tone early, building a 35-21 halftime advantage behind efficient shooting and defensive pressure. The Bison forced 13 turnovers and limited Southwestern to just 32-percent shooting in the opening period. A 14-2 run midway through the first half helped OBU stretch the lead to double digits, and the Bulldogs never fully recovered.
Terry Coner Jr. paced the Bison with 24 points, knocking down 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and going 9-of-11 at the free-throw line.
Erik Madrid added 17 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting night while pulling down eight rebounds.
Jackson Greene also contributed 17 points as OBU shot 51.9 percent from the floor and an impressive 46.2 percent from three-point range.
Southwestern (10-14, 7-11 GAC) mounted a push in the second half, shooting 51.5 percent after the break and trimming the deficit to single digits on multiple occasions. Ty Frierson led the Bulldogs with 15 points, while Elijah Jordan and Tobias Roland each added 14.
However, every time the Bulldogs threatened, OBU answered. A Coner three-pointer and consecutive interior buckets from Madrid and
Christian Hodge restored a comfortable cushion midway through the second half. The Bison also controlled the glass, outrebounding Southwestern 37-28 and holding a 38-30 edge in points in the paint.
OBU sealed the win at the free-throw line down the stretch, finishing 17-of-22 from the stripe to complete the 12-point conference victory.
On Thursday, Feb. 19, the Bison host Henderson State at 7:30 p.m.
Â
