Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Box Score Goodwell, Okla.—Aggie fans were left breathless after Monday night's match-up between the OPSU men's basketball team and the Bethel College Threshers which ended in an overtime loss for the home team 98-92.

The Aggies took full control of the game in the first half going into the break with a 14-point lead; but the lead would be up for grabs as the Threshers fought through the second half and tied the score for an extra five minutes of overtime action. Missed baskets and two late fouls by the Aggies gave Bethel opportunities to put points on the board which they took advantage of out-scoring the Aggies 11-5 in their overtime victory.

With the exception of scoring the opening basket to start the game, the Threshers found themselves trailing the entire duration of the first half. Junior guard John Lazenby announced his presence with authority landing four shots from beyond the arc in the first six minutes of play to help the Aggies gain a 24-11 lead.

Long-distance shots continued to drop for the Aggies as Lazenby added two more to the boards along with Austin Beene and Antonio Manns, Jr. who each scored two three-pointers in the first half. The score was 57-43 at the half with OPSU in the lead. The Aggies averaged 63 percent from the field shooting 10-15 from three-point range.

Jared Straight got in on the action with a three-point shot to pull the Aggies ahead by 17 points to open the second half, but the tables slowly turned as the Threshers started chipping away at the lead and the Aggies' hot streak cooled down. By the 11:18 mark Bethel had fought to within seven points of the Aggies' lead.

The Aggies would not relent and drove back ahead by 13 points with a score of 74-61 with just over eight minutes left in regulation. The battle continued as once again missed shots and Aggie fouls allowed Bethel to chink away at the lead and find themselves down by just three points with five minutes on the clock. The Threshers would tie the score at the two-minute mark (80-80), but the Aggies maintained focus and pulled ahead by three with eight seconds remaining. Bethel's Adam Arciniega fired a buzzer-beater to tie the game at 87-87 bringing the game into overtime.

Five minutes was put on the clock and it was anyone's game as each team was hungry for the win. The Threshers opened with a three taking an early lead, and it was Lazenby on point for an Aggie three to tie things up after two minutes had ticked away. Lazenby would be the only Aggie to score in OT, adding a layup good for two to the scoreboard; but fouls sent the Threshers to the line and four free-throws in a row resulted in a six-point victory for the visitors.

Coach Jerry Olson was extremely proud of his team's effort saying, "We competed hard throughout and made good shots in the first half. We just got gassed out and couldn't knock down open shots in the second half."

Lazenby led the game in scoring with 34 points (24 of which came from three-pointers). Manns, Jr. and Straight were also leading contributors for the Aggies scoring 18 and 16 points respectively. Manns led the Aggies in rebounds with eight and freshman Austin Thrash offered a game-high in assists with five. Olson was very pleased with Lazenby's productivity commenting, "John shot well. I'd like to see Antonio [Manns, Jr.] get going again though."

Arciniega led Bethel's team with 31 total points and tied the game-high in rebounds with teammate Jordan Jones bringing down nine boards each. Bethel brought consistency to the overtime period shooting 3-7 from the field, and landing 100 percent of their shots from both three-point range and the line. The Aggies were held to 22 percent from the field in overtime and failed to score from the line in OT.

The Aggies now look ahead to conference play as they take on St. Mary's University Thursday, Dec. 18. The Heartland Conference games will kick-off at 5:30 p.m. with the Aggie women and the men will follow at 7:30 p.m. Aggie fans will have one more opportunity to be entered into the drawing for a personalized jersey and signed OPSU basketball; the Aggie CAN Make a Difference food drive wraps up Thursday with the drawing taking place at halftime of the men's game.