OKWU HOOPS: Eagles thrash Threshers; Bethel women score 5 in final 3 seconds to edge OKWU ladies
Oklahoma Wesleyan University's Mary Cone (11) tracks a player during earlier season action in Bartlesville. The Lady Eagles came up short on the road, losing to Bethel 68-65 in the final seconds on December 14, 2024.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Talk about your agony of defeat.
With less than 20 seconds remaining against Bethel (Kan.) College the Oklahoma Wesleyan University women’s basketball owned a three-point lead and ball possession.
But Bethel scored five points in the final three seconds to survive with a 68-65 victory on its home floor on Saturday (Dec. 14).
In the men’s game, meanwhile, the OKWU Eagles continued their first late fall romp by thrashing the Threshers of Bethel, 86-70.
With 11 different players contributing points, Coach Donnie Bostwick’s OKWU squad improved to 9-3 overall and 6-1 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
This game ended the pre-Christmas schedule for both teams.
The OKWU Lady Eagles, who are coached by Heidi Messer, will be off until January.
Bostwick’s Eagles eye a showcase opportunity on Dec. 29 against Langston at the Paycom Center (Oklahoma City).
Following are more details from last weekend’s KCAC split.
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WOMEN: Bethel 68, OKWU 65
OKWU unleashed a powerful one-two offensive punch with Haley Meely (24 points) and Zariah Tillman (19 points).
But the remaining three starters combined for only 10 points and the bench added just 14 more points, led by Rashaan Smith with eight.
Khassidy Warr made a huge contribution on the boards with 10 but hit just 1-of-4 from the field.
Sophia Regalado added seven points and three rebounds.
Kendall Locke and Carley Robb both tallied 20 points for Bethel. Robb buried six three-pointers. She also brought down eight boards.
OKWU trailed by seven points, 58-51, with less than seven minutes left in the game.
But they surged with a 9-2 run — capped by a three by Tillman and two-pointer with Haley — to tie the score, 60-60, with three minutes remaining.
In the final minute OKWU squeezed into the lead, 65-63 and added a free throw with 15 seconds left to claim control.
But Locke scored all five of Bethel’s points in the final three seconds to determine the outcome.
Oklahoma Wesleyan University's Isaac Stanek (10) drives the ball during earlier season action. The Eagles defeated Bethel, 86-70, on the road December 14, 2024.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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MEN: OKWU 86, Bethel 70
Even with their bulldog heavyweight Jaden Lietzke still out of action, the OKWU Eagles displayed plenty of bite.
Jaden Wilson ripped the cords on 7-of-8 shooting to pile up 15 points to lead Eagle scorers, followed by Temaje Izuagbe with 11.
But balance reigned on the scoring list after that — six players with six or more points. They included Dylan Phillip (nine), three with eight points each (Isaac Stanek, Blake Hamblin and Nick Bene), Daniel Oluwasuyi with seven and Amari Woods with six.
D.J. Talton Jr. also turned in an outstanding stat line — five points, five rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
Harper Jonas and Cade Kittrell rang up 15 and 12 points, respectively, for Bethel.
The Eagles erupted for 50 points during a blistering offensive first half that saw the teams combine for 91 points.
Lietzke has missed more than three games due to injury. A fourth-year starter, he is averaging 16.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game and recorded two double-doubles in eight-and-a-half games. The resilient Eagles have pieced together a 3-1 record during his absence.