GOODWELL, Okla. - The Oklahoma Panhandle State men's basketball team dropped their second game of the week to the Central Christian Tigers with a final score of 87-80. A game that was statistically as close as ever. However, the Aggies' inability to convert at the free-throw line hurt them in the long run. A heated matchup that saw forty-nine personal fouls and a single technical foul.
After a tough loss Head Coach
Mark Laird comments, "We played much better on the offensive end the last few games, but our defensive connectedness is slipping a bit. We will get back to work on Monday and get ready for 2 more really tough SAC opponents."
The Aggies had three players score in double-figures against the Tigers;
Auston Chatman,
Jalen Thomas, and
Rayquan Elliott. To battle back against the length and physicality of the Tigers the Aggies needed to have a concentration and intent that just was not there.
Panhandle State (9-12, 6-10 SAC) dropped to the Central Christian Tigers (11-13, 5-11 SAC) for the second time this season. A previous matchup that was not nearly as close as this one.
Justin Pile,
Rayquan Elliott, and
Jalen Thomas would also head the offense in that game despite the loss. A game that saw the Aggies shoot only 42 percent from the field and a dismal 30 percent from the free throw line. Performance from the line has been a thorn in the side of the Aggies for the majority of the season.
Elliott and Thomas once again led the Aggie offense in this conference matchup. Elliott went for seventeen points, two rebounds, and three assists. While Thomas would total sixteen points, three bounds, and a single assist.
Auston Chatman would also throw his name into the mix as an offensive threat against the Tigers. Chatman, who has heated up as of late, went for fifteen points, four rebounds, and two assists.
As both teams stand in the middle of the pack at the back end of their conference slates neither team could waste the opportunity for a win. The Tigers entered Anchor D Arena with the size and physicality that matched up well with the speed and elusiveness of the Aggies.
The first half was all Tigers. The Aggies were unable to find a rhythm on offense not due to their own mistakes but due to the effectiveness of the Tigers' play style. As numerous Aggies got into foul trouble in the half the play style for the rest of the game would have to be adjusted. An adjustment the Tigers would take advantage of as they would shoot above fifty percent in the half to give them a nine-point lead. The Aggies had opportunities to have the game tied in the half however them going 4 for 13 at the free-throw line dimmed their chances.
As the second half rolled around the Aggies looked to have turned it around on both sides of the court. Finishing the half shooting 65 percent from the field, 57 percent from three, and 91 percent from the free-throw line. Nevertheless, it was too late a push for the Aggies to overcome the lead the Tigers had built up. In a foul-ridden game the team that was more successful from the free-throw line would come out on top and that's what the Tigers did. Both teams would shoot identical numbers by the end of the game. Fifty percent from the field and forty-seven percent from three. The only difference attributing to the final score was the Tigers going 31 for 40 from the free-throw line and the Aggies going 14 for 24.
The Aggies return to action next Thursday, February 3rd against the Oklahoma City Starts in Anchor D Arena at 7:45 PM.
