PLAINVIEW, Texas -- For the eighth time this season, senior Max Hopfgartner netted at least 20 points, but No. 14 Wayland Baptist (Texas) scored 14 unanswered points in the first half to extend a two-point game into a 31-15 lead for the hosts as the Pioneers cruised comfortably to an 82-64 win over the Golden Eagles (12-8, 4-4 SAC) this afternoon at the Hutcherson Center.
Three Golden Eagles scored in double figures, led by Hopfgartner's 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the floor, in addition to a game-high nine rebounds. Senior Samson Olayemi netted a season-high 14 points while junior DJ Feitl added 11 points in the loss.
“After an alright start and a close game early, we hit a wall defensively and could not score for a long stretch in that first half,†admitted head coach Jason Beschta. “We had too many empty possessions as a result of taking forced shots or turning the ball over. Our defense needs to be a constant for us regardless of whether we are scoring on offense, and we made several mental errors during that bad offensive stretch that led to open shots and layups for Wayland.â€
John Brown was plagued from the field in the first half, shooting just 9-of-27 (33.3 percent). The poor shooting afternoon led to a 40-24 deficit at halftime, ultimately the final margin, as both squads placed 40 on the scoreboard in the second half. The Golden Eagles scored more efficiently in the second stanza (45.5 percent) by hitting 15-of-33 field goals, but were unable to make up the difference against the conference's highest-scoring team.
“The conference season is all about continually improving so we are playing our best basketball at the end of the year,†Beschta added. “We have a lot we can learn from this one and must learn if we are going to keep improving.â€
After Feitls layup at the 12:20 mark that knotted the score at 13 apiece, the Golden Eagles struggled from the floor for the next 9:03, shooting 0-of-6 from the floor while committing eight turnovers. The span allowed the Pioneers to build a 33-18 advantage until Feitl poured in a jump shot with 3:17 remaining in the half to stem the bleeding.
Sophomore Zach English converted a triple and Olayemi netted all three points on an and-one chance, but Baptist continued to keep stride with JBU after the scoreless skid, taking a 42-24 lead into the break.
JBU turned the ball over 12 times in the pivotal first half and finished the game with 20 miscues, the fourth time this year committing 20 or more miscues. Baptist used the extra chances to attempt eight more shots than JBU and converted the John Brown errors into 20 points.
Usual as of late, Hopfgartner came alive in the second half, draining 7-of-10 chances from the floor (16 points), but the tandem of Royal Crouch and Kendall Durant posted 24 of its own for Wayland.
Wayland shot 44 percent (30-of-68) from the field, fueled by a 7-of-10 effort from reserve Kendall Durant. Durant finished with 19 points off the bench and converted 16-of-21 trips to the line in the win. Royal Crouch poured in a game-high 26 while Bunja Yaboe grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, powering WBU to a 44-34 advantage on the boards.
The Pioneers move to 16-2 (5-2 SAC) and extended its home record to 11-0 on the season.
John Brown returns to action on Thursday (Jan. 29) when it hosts Oklahoma City at Bill George Arena. The game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m.
