In a closely contested matchup, the Oklahoma Panhandle State University men's basketball team faced off against Wayland Baptist University, ultimately succumbing to a narrow defeat in the final seconds. The game kept fans on the edge of their seats with an intense battle between the two teams, showcasing the resilience and skill of both sides.
The first half set the tone for the evening, with OPSU lighting it up from deep, going 7-13 from beyond the arc. Wayland, led by the dominating performance of center D'Michael Bellfield (#50), found success in the paint, amassing 18 points. Despite trailing by as much as 8 points in the first half, OPSU rallied and narrowed the gap to just one point, ending the half at 39-38.
The second half continued to be a closely contested affair, with OPSU having 17 free throw opportunities but converting on only 8. Wayland, efficient from the stripe, went 8-10 in the second half. The game ultimately came down to those crucial free throws.
In the closing moments, OPSU made a spirited run, highlighted by a crucial three-pointer from Fred Robinson that brought the Aggies within 2 points. With 26 seconds left on the clock, OPSU had possession after a missed layup by Wayland. Abdulh Diaby's clutch putback layup with 7 seconds remaining tied the game at 71-71.
However, Wayland quickly responded, executing a fast break down the length of the court for a wide-open layup, taking the lead 73-71. Despite a last-ditch effort with a half-court heave from Amaree Brown, the shot fell short, and OPSU was unable to secure the victory.
Reflecting on the game, OPSU Head Coach Charles Belt expressed, "This is my 4th rebuild. 2 as an assistant and the last 2 as a Head Coach! I always remind myself and my staff there are stages to rebuilding… we are in the "lose small" stage. For a second game in a row we lose in the last seconds. For the second game in a row we don't make Free Throws. Tonight we were 11-22. Saturday we were 14-23. We are making our Free Throws away from being 4-1 in the SAC. It's gut wrenching. We aren't looking to the future… it about right now. We get a break, we get to mentally decompress, we get to regroup, and then we have to improve. We have 17 conference games remaining to prove we belong just like everyone else in this league."
Leading the charge for the Aggies were senior Joe Greaves, who contributed 22 points, going 6/12 from downtown and a perfect 4/4 from the free-throw line, along with 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Sophomore Fred Robinson IV added 21 points, shooting 7/14 from the field and 4/7 from three, while also securing 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Abdulh Diaby made a significant impact with 15 points, 6 rebounds, and an impressive 6 blocks.
The Aggies will resume play in 2024, continuing conference action against Texas Wesleyan on January 4th in Fort Worth, TX at 8 PM.
