Men's Basketball | 11/2/2019 1:20:00 AM

Box Score  
PLAINVIEW, Texas – Oklahoma Panhandle State University's men's basketball team improved to 2-0 on the young 2019-20 season by defeating Arlington Baptist University, 76-70, at the Pioneer Classic hosted by Wayland Baptist University. It marks the first time that the Aggies' men's hoops program has won its first two game of a season since 2015 (when the team won its first three).
 
But Panhandle's second win in as many days of the new season did not come without some anxious moments for first-year OPSU Head Coach Mark Laird.
 
Within the first 12 minutes of the game, the Aggies had raced out to a 22-point lead and looked to be in complete control, leading the Patriots at the intermission, 38-19. In the second half, ABU begins to chip away, but OPSU still kept a double-digit advantage for the bulk of the second half.
 
Ahead by 14 points, 72-58, with 3:30 remaining in regulation, the Patriots made a run at OPSU. By the 1:07 mark, ABU had sliced the Aggie cushion to an uncomfortable six points, 74-68. Panhandle was able to thwart the Patriots and hang on for the 76-70 win.
 
Three Aggies scored in double-digits, led by Auston Chatman's team-leading 15 points. Chatman hit 6-of-14 from the field and had a 3-for-8 evening from beyond the arc. He also hauled in six rebounds.
 
Sophomore Terrance Gibbons scored 14 and shot 7-for-14 from the field. Gibbons grabbed a game-high eight rebounds and gave off a pair of assists, with one block.
 
Maurice Waters was the third Aggie in double figures with 13 points. Waters was 5-of-6 shooting from the floor and was a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line, to go along with five rebounds and two assists.
 
Jalen Williams made 3-of-4 shots for seven points. Quentin Fankhouser corralled six rebounds to go along with his six points. Tristen Womble and DK Sumo each chipped in six points. Sumo had a team-best three steals.
 
As team, Panhandle State shot 50 percent from the field overall and were 6-of-19 from long distance. Conversely, the Aggie defense held ABU top just 33 percent (26-79) shooting. OPSU was out-rebounded by a 45-41 margin.
 
Panhandle State will continue its grueling start with its third game in as many days when it plays its home opener on Saturday (Nov. 2/3 p.m.), hosting the University of the Southwest.