Bartlesville is split city in OKWU hoop games
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Jensen Knowles (24) blocks out against Evangel in Bartlesville on January 22, 2025. The Eagles won, 103-71.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Jaelin Glass (12) goes to the basket against Evangel in Bartlesville on January 22, 2025. The Lady Eagles fell, 74-67.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
Jan. 25, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Toot! Toot!
That’s the sound of the surging Eagle Basketball Express locomotive as it crashes along the track of success in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Most recently Oklahoma Wesleyan University men left rival Evangel (Mo.) University mangled in its wake in a 103-71 victory.
In the women’s game, OKWU waged a fierce fight before succumbing in overtime to the Evangel ladies, 74-67.
Following are summaries of these games.
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Oklahoma Wesleyan Christian University’s Haley Meeley (10) fights for the ball during action against Evangel in Bartlesville on January 22, 2025. The Lady Eagles fell, 74-67.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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WOMEN: Evangel 74, OKWU 67
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s winning surge took a temporary detour Wednesday evening.
The visiting Evangel (Mo.) squad dominated in overtime to turn back OKWU, 74-67, in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference action at the Mueller Sports Center.
Jaelin Glass skinned the nets with 15 points, followed by Shade Richardson with 11 to pace the Lady Eagle offense.
Khassidy Warr and Sophia Regalado added nine and eight points, respectively, followed by two players with seven points apiece — Tatiana Gilford and Zariah Tillman.
Richardson and Warr pulled down seven and six rebounds, respectively.
Kirby Jazzy rang up 17 points to pace Evangel (10-9, 8-5), followed by Lexi Berry with 16.
The game remained close throughout. OKWU led at halftime, 28-26 and 44-41 after three quarters. Evangel pulled even by the end of regulation, 62-62, and won the overtime period, 12-5.
NEXT UP: OKWU — which is coached by Heidi Messer — travels today to Hillsboro, Kan., to face Tabor College at 2 p.m.
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Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Yashi McKenzie (0) goes to the basket against Evangel in Bartlesville on January 22, 2025. The Eagles won, 103-71.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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MEN: OKWU 103, Evangel 71
The Eagles (13-6, 10-3) — who are coached by Donnie Bostwick — soared past the century mark for the first time this season.
Amari Woods came off the bench to hit four three-pointers and score 14 points to help fuel the Eagles’ charge.
Four other players — all starters — reached double-figure points, including Isaac Stanek, 17; Jaden Lietzke, 14; Derrick Talton Jr., 13; and Yashi McKenzie, 11. Stanek dropped in three treys.
Lietzke contributed a team-high seven rebounds and played turnover-free ball for 24 minutes. He buried 7-of-8 field goals.
Talton handed out seven assists, make four steals and pulled down four boards.
STUNNING STAT: The Eagles have struggled most the season on three-point shooting. But in this game OKWU buried 13-of-28 treys — nearly 50 percent!
BENCH POWER: Eagle reserves combined for 41 points and 11 rebounds and eight assists, three of them by Dylan Phillip.
HOT SPELL: OKWU has matched its longest season winning streak (four straight) while scoring between 84-to-103 points. Prior to this fiery stretch OKWU had scored 84-or-more points only twice in 15 games.
NEXT UP: OKWU travels today to Hillsboro, Kan., to face Tabor College at 4 p.m. In their pre-Thanksgiving meeting OKWU won, 79-66.