mbb
94
Oklahoma Panhandle State OPSU 12-16,9-13 SAC
102
Winner Southwestern Christian SCU 13-13,10-12 SAC
Oklahoma Panhandle State OPSU
12-16,9-13 SAC
94
Final
102
Southwestern Christian SCU
13-13,10-12 SAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Oklahoma Panhandle State OPSU 50 44 94
Southwestern Christian SCU 47 55 102

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Ast. SID

Aggies See First Round Exit

BETHANY, Okla. - The Oklahoma Panhandle State men's basketball team opened the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament against the Southwestern Christian University Eagles. Falling out of the tournament after losing to the Eagles 94-102. The Aggies came out hot in the first half but would fall short in the second as the Eagles would run away with the half. 

Head Coach Mark Laird knew going to Southwestern Christian was going to be an uphill battle. "We knew this was going to be a very tough game. We were fortunate to come away with the win the last time we played here. We weren't as fortunate this time. It's always tough to end the season. We feel like we took some strides in building our Uncommon culture. We have some tremendous young men in this program. It's been an honor to coach them this year! We will move into the off-season with a focus on taking this program even further next year."

The Aggies looked to use the strength of their guard duo of Rayquan Elliott and Jalen Thomas to come out with a win in Bethany. However, the two guards would split court time after sharing it for the majority of the first half. Without their two leading scorers, the Aggie offense struggled to put points up on the board. 

The Southwestern Christian Eagles and the Panhandle State Aggies have had their fair share of heated contests in the past. The opening round of the tournament would prove no different. A contest that saw fifty-one fouls called in the game. Both teams combined for thirty-six fouls in each of the previous two matchups. The Aggies looked to come into Bethany once again and defeat the Eagles on their home court as they did in mid-January in their come-from-behind win. 

Panhandle State and Southwestern Christian entered the first round of the tournament as top-five scoring offenses in the conference. The Aggies boast two top five scorers in Rayquan Elliott and Jalen Thomas. 

Jalen Thomas, Justin Pile, and Rayquan Elliott would each reach double-figures in the game. Thomas and Elliott would run the floor for the majority of the game until the Eagles would begin to put all their focus onto the two Aggie playmakers. Leaving Pile and Chatman to pick up the slack for the Aggie offense. 

The Aggies came out of the tip-off ready to play. Although the Eagles would win the tip, the Aggies would immediately force a turnover and pass out to Austin Chatman for the game-opening three-point shot. The Aggies would continue to play aggressive on defense as another turnover by the Eagles would allow Elliott to knock down a wide-open three. Both teams would play fast and furious in the half, pushing the floor at any opportunity they could get. Reyes Ludi-Herrera and Rayquan Elliott would both be crucial in creating extra possessions for the Aggies as they took a 50-47 lead into the half. 

The beginning of the second half saw a different Aggie style of play than the first. The Aggies were lulled to sleep by their early lead over the Eagles and would wake up too late in the half to mount a comeback. A plethora of fouls would be called in the half as both teams would reach the bonus before the ten-minute mark, a usual struggle for the Aggie shooters. With the increased number of fouls, it became ever more important for the Aggies to capitalize from the charity stripe. With the Aggies unable to convert from the line, by missing ten free throws,  the Eagles would constantly widen their lead.

The second half saw a tired Aggie lineup fall short. A lineup that was outrebounded 47-28 and gave up twelve second-chance points. Elliott and Thomas combined for fifty-four of the Aggie ninety-four. Without any substantial help from other Aggie scorers, Thomas and Elliott just were not able to pull it out. 


 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Rayquan Elliott

#3 Rayquan Elliott

G
6' 4"
Junior
Reyes Ludi-Herrera

#11 Reyes Ludi-Herrera

G
6' 0"
Junior
Justin Pile

#12 Justin Pile

G/F
6' 5"
Junior
Jalen Thomas

#2 Jalen Thomas

G
6' 1"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Rayquan Elliott

#3 Rayquan Elliott

6' 4"
Junior
G
Reyes Ludi-Herrera

#11 Reyes Ludi-Herrera

6' 0"
Junior
G
Justin Pile

#12 Justin Pile

6' 5"
Junior
G/F
Jalen Thomas

#2 Jalen Thomas

6' 1"
Sophomore
G