OKWU hoops: Eagles zap Sterling for 9th-straight win; Lady Eagles come up shy
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Jaden Lietzke (5) blocks out during an earlier season game. The Eagles continue to climb higher, claiming a road win, 77-63 at Sterling on February 8, 2025. Due to possible winter weather, OKWU’s scheduled Wednesday game vs Ottawa has been moved to Thursday at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Sophia Regalado (32) takes a breather during earlier season action. The Lady Eagles fell at home to Sterling, 81-70 on February 8, 2025. Due to possible winter weather, OKWU’s scheduled Wednesday game vs Ottawa has been moved to Thursday at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
February 10, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
(Note: Wednesday’s home games vs Ottawa have been changed to Thursday due to possible winter weather.)
Invincible, unstoppable, excellent, matchless …
Well, you get the idea.
During the past four weeks the Oklahoma Wesleyan University men’s basketball team has been all of those.
Through the first 10 weeks of the season the Eagles appeared to be headed to one of the least successful seasons during the Donnie Bostwick coaching era.
Their campaign tottered with a 9-6 record — a mediocre mark for a Bostwick squad — and had just lost three conference games in a row for the first time since 2017.
Injuries were the largest culprits of the Eagles’ stumbling woes.
But starting on January 13, the OKWU raptors of prayer saw their supplications for a major turnaround be answered.
Answered in a huge way.
Saturday’s 77-63 rout of Sterling (Kan.) College — a payback bashing from a loss to Sterling back on December 7 — marked OKWU’s ninth-straight win since the second week in January.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Yashi McKenzie (0) scores the first basket of the game during an earlier season game. The Eagles continue to climb higher, claiming a road win, 77-63 at Sterling on February 8, 2025. Due to possible winter weather, OKWU’s scheduled Wednesday game vs Ottawa has been moved to Thursday at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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From what appeared to be a disappointing season is now transforming into what could be one of Bostwick’s best. The Eagles are now 18-6 overall and 15-3 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference with just four regular season games remaining.
Jaden Lietzke sculpted a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds, and a blocked shot and steal) to help energize the assault against Sterling.
Derrick Talton Jr. also strung together a stupendous stat line — 16 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals.
Yashi McKenzie and Isaac Stanek contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Nick Bene, Dylan Phillip and Jaden Wilson chipped in with six points each. Amari Woods dialed up five points and two assists.
OKWU shot better than 50 percent (30-of-59) from the field and hit 11-of-13 free throws.
Hidden among the numbers was a double-take category — the Eagles made just four turnovers.
Elias Ngoga, Jayden Garrison and Jimmy Causey Jr. scored 11 points each for Sterling.
Next up, the Eagles finish off their three-game homestand by hosting Ottawa (Kan.) University at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The women begin play at 5:30 p.m.
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Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Haley Meely (10) tries to control the ball during earlier season action. The Lady Eagles fell at home to Sterling, 81-70 on February 8, 2025. Due to possible winter weather, OKWU’s scheduled Wednesday game vs Ottawa has been moved to Thursday at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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WOMEN: Sterling 81, OKWU 70
The Lady Eagles continue to struggle to put together back-to-back wins.
After surging to a 20-point victory earlier in the week against Southwestern (Kan.) College, they fell on Saturday to Sterling.
Rashaan Smith turned in an exceptional performance (9-of-11 shooting, 18 points, five rebounds, three blocked shots, one steal) to help fuel the Lady Eagles’ effort.
Haley Meely and Zariah Tillman both added 11 points, while Khamille Warr and Khassidy Warr stuck eight and seven points in the scoring till.
OKWU led at halftime, 37-35.
Korynn Clason topped Sterling with 26 points and seven rebounds.