Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU) men's basketball team gave it their all in a tough matchup against the Bulldogs of McPherson College. While the Aggies fought, they ultimately fell short, with the final score being 81-63 ending in favor of McPherson College.

The game kicked off with the Aggies taking an early 6-2 lead, their largest of the night. However, the Bulldogs of McPherson quickly went on a scoring spree, leaving OPSU down 18-11, prompting the Aggies to call a timeout at the 11:07 minute mark.

By halftime, McPherson College had secured a commanding 44-23 lead. Their exceptional shooting performance, with a 64% success rate from beyond the arc and a 51% field goal rate, posed a significant challenge for OPSU, making it difficult for the Aggies to put together defensive stops.

The second half saw the Bulldogs continuing to build on their lead, with their largest advantage extending to 22 points at 52-30, just 16:31 into the half. OPSU, not willing to give up, attempted a comeback, bringing the score to 57-40 at the 7:41 minute mark. However, their struggles to secure defensive stops hindered their efforts. With only two minutes left, the Aggies found themselves trailing by 14.

Rebounding played a pivotal role in the game, with McPherson winning the battle on the boards, 41-36. OPSU's leading scorer for the night was Fred Robinson IV, who contributed 16 points. McPherson College showcased a well-rounded offensive effort, with six of their players reaching double-figure scoring. Joe Greaves was the only other Aggie to reach double digits, putting up 14 points and grabbing six rebounds.

Kaleb Stephens came off the bench and made a significant impact for OPSU, providing 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals with his tough defensive play. Abdulh Diaby also had a strong performance, recording 6 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 1 assist.

After the game, Head Coach Charles Belt reflected on the performance, saying, "Today was a tale of two halves...I told our guys after the first half, that's not us...that's the complete opposite of Coach Belt basketball. In the second half, we defended well, and at the 10-minute mark, they only scored 10 points. We started to attack the basket and played a little tougher...but we need to play to our identity, we've got to get better."

The Aggies will now take some time to regroup before hitting the road for an exhibition game against Northwestern Oklahoma State University on Wednesday, November 15th.