COLLEGE HOOPS: OKWU men blast Bluejays in home debut; Tabor savors women's win
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Derrick Talton (3) steals the ball during men’s action against Tabor on Nov. 16, 2024 in Bartlesville. The Eagles defeated Tabor, 79-66 in their home opener. The Eagles are at home again Wednesday (Nov. 20).
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Oklahoma Wesleyan University students throw yellow, white and blue ribbons on the court after the Eagles scored their first basket at home on Nov. 16, 2024. The Eagles defeated Tabor, 79-66 and play at home again Wednesday (Nov. 20).
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
Bartlesville Area Sports Report
Following a grueling non-conference road schedule the Oklahoma Wesleyan University men’s basketball team swooped into conference play with a victory on Saturday (Nov. 16).
Fueled by Jaden Lietzke’s double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds), the Eagles exacted a 79-66 victory against Tabor (Kan.) College in their Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference opener.
OKWU (4-2) hosted the showdown in what also was their home opener at the Mueller Sports Center. This was the 12th home debut at OKWU for head coach Donnie Bostwick.
Eagle fans fawned over their men in Navy Blue & Yellow as they flogged the Bluejays of Tabor with swarthy defense, bench scoring and rebounding.
Tabor shot only 35 percent from the field and came up minus-17 on the boards (OKWU-49, Tabor-32).
On the offensive end, OKWU continues to grind through some tough shooting — 37.1 percent from the field and 22 percent from behind the three-point arc.
OKWU dominated in scoring by its bench — 48 points compared to only 20 for the Tabor subs.
Dylan Phillip came off the pine to score 11 points for the Eagles.
Four players contributed eight points each — Jaden Wilson, Amari Woods, Isaac Stanek and Jensen Knowles — the latter three off the bench.
Wilson also pulled down nine rebounds.
D.J. Talton Jr. had a quiet night statistically but was an invaluable catalyst with four assists, six steals, five rebounds, four points and many, many smart decisions and defensive efficiency.
“Ninety percent of our runs come from something he does,” Bostwick said. “He’s such a difference maker and game changer. … He’s a winner.”
Bostwick spread out the minutes like warm peanut butter on soda crackers— 12 players scored nine-or-more minutes and 12 different players contributed to the scoring total.
“Every team has its strengths,” Bostwick said. “This is a team I feel can win as a pack. We have a level of depth.”
That’s why Bostwick is emphasizing the defensive press more this season because he has the numbers that can keep fresh legs on the court.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Dylan Phillip (23) scores during the Eagles home opener against Tabor on Nov. 16, 2024 at the Mueller Sports Complex. The Eagles won, 79-66 and play again Wednesday (Nov. 20).
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
As mentioned, OKWU fought a battle of survival in its five non-conference games to open the season. The Eagles had to play all five games — against high quality competition — in enemy gyms.
“Hopefully they took advantage of the opportunity of learning in the fire,” Bostwick said. “We didn’t come out unscathed (a 3-and-2 record), but I think in the long haul those experiences are something this team can build on in conference.”
Next up, the Eagles play host at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 20) to Friends (Kan.) University.
That showdown begins another grueling stretch against some of the conference’s tougher teams — including back-to-back road games in early December at Southwestern (Kan.) College and Bethel (Kan.) College.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Shade Richardson (1) picks up a loose ball during home action against Tabor on Nov. 16, 2024. The Lady Eagles fell, 79-62 and play at home again on Wednesday (Nov. 20).
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
OKWU LADY EAGLES
Tabor dominated the first half of the women’s game Saturday and powered to a 79-62 victory in their conference opener.
The Lady Bluejays busted out to a 12-point halftime lead, 43-31. OKWU made a gritty stand in the third quarter to slice the deficit down to five points, 59-54.
But in the final quarter Tabor limited the Lady Eagles (1-5, 0-1) to only seven points and clinched the 17-point victory.
Three Lady Eagles dialed in double-digit scoring — Shade Richardson (16 points), Haley Meely (12 points) and Rashaan Smith (12 points). Smith nailed 5-of-6 field goals and also pulled down four rebounds during her 14-minute stint off the bench.
Meely dropped in five free throws and dished out five assists, while Richardson seized a team-best six rebounds.
Rounding out the top five scorers for OKWU were Gracie Alexander (seven points) and Zariah Tillman (five points).
OKWU shot decently from the field (45 percent), but hefted up only 49 shots compared to 57 for Tabor.
Tabor inflicted a good share of its damage from behind the three-point line — 9-of-14 (a sizzling 64 percent), compared to 4-of-12 for the Lady Eagles.
Lillie Veer dropped in 21 points (including amazing 9-of-11 shooting from the field) and Alyvia Owens buried 6-of-7 of her field goals to ring up 15 points.