Roundup: OKWU fall on the road; sweeps bethany at home
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Isaac Stanek (10) looks to pass the ball during an earlier season game. Stanek scored 28 points in the Eagles road loss to Friends on Jan. 11, 2025.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Zariah Tillman (3) goes to the basket during an earlier season game. The Lady Eagles fell to Friends, 89-45 on Jan. 11, 2025 on the road.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
Following are reports on Oklahoma Wesleyan University basketball games Saturday (Jan. 11) at Friends (Kan.) University, in Wichita, Kan. and Monday (Jan. 13) at home against Bethany.
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MEN: Friends 88, OKWU 82
Talk about your revenge.
Talk about your heartbreak.
Talk about heart-dribbling excitement!
The men’s basketball firestorm of passion between the OKWU Eagles and Friends Falcons had it all.
Forget the teasing — Friends won, 88-82, in a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference showdown.
It was a devastating loss in multiple ways for the OKWU Eagles.
First, the last time the teams met — on Nov. 20, 2023 — the Eagles blasted Friends, 82-58, in Bartlesville.
Second, Saturday’s loss was doubly-painful because OKWU led by double-digits with less than 10 minutes left — and lost by six.
Third, OKWU has lost three straight for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
Finally, this is the first time OKWU has lost back-to-back conference decisions since the 2022-23 campaign.
It was just an odd evening all the way around for OKWU.
Issac Stanek — who had scored a total of only 42 points in his previous nine appearances for OKWU — broke out in a monstrous way with 28 points — including five three-pointers and 5-of-6 free throw shooting.
Yashi McKenzie added 18 points (with two treys), followed by Jaden Lietzke (back for his second game after a long injury absence) with 13 and D.J. Talton with 12, including four assists and two steals.
But, here was a big part of the rub for the Eagles — their bench recorded more fouls (six) than points (five).
Five players scored in double-digits for the Friends Falcons, led by Collin Maclin (24), Cahlese Lee (19) and Randy Woolf, Jr. (17 points). Woolf also pulled down eight rebounds.
As mentioned, OKWU appeared to have this one in control going into the final stretch.
At the 10:31 mark, OKWU went up by 13, 70-57, on a deuce by McKenzie.
As the game wound under the 10-minute mark, OKWU owned a 10-point advantage, 70-60. But the Falcons spread their wings and swooped to a 14-0 run during a three-minute spurt to sail into the lead, 74-70.
Stanek finally broke OKWU’s drought with a layup, cutting the margin to two, 74-72. At the 5:06 mark, Talton bedded two free throws to knot the score, 74-74.
But OKWU never led again.
Stanek nailed three free throws in the final minute to close the gap to three points, 85-82. OKWU wouldn’t score again.
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WOMEN: Friends 89, OKWU 45
Scoring six points in the first quarter usually is not the catalyst for victory.
Friends surged to a 20-6 lead in the first period and proceeded to defeat the OKWU Lady Eagles, 89-45.
OKWU made its strongest showing in the third quarter, outscoring Friends, 21-20. But Friends came back with 25 points in the fourth quarter to wrap up the triumph.
Rashaan Smith stirred the cords for 13 points to top the Lady Eagle offense. Shade Richardson and Zariah Tillman added eight points apiece. Richardson also handed out five assists.
Lauryn McIver and Rayland Garner scored 25 and 14, respectively, for Friends. Taylor Jackson added a double-double (12 points, 15 rebounds).
OKWU fell to 6-9 overall and 3-6 in conference.
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Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Nick Bene (21) scores during an earlier season game. The Eagles downed Bethany, 91-80 on Jan. 13, 2025 at home.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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Men: OKWU 91, Bethany 80
Smiles and sighs of relief once again graced the postgame celebration of the Oklahoma Wesleyan University men’s basketball team.
After enduring a three-game losing streak — the team’s longest since the 2017-18 season — the Eagles made a headlong plunge Monday (Jan. 13) evening to victory.
Paced by newly-emerged scoring live wire Issac Stanek (19 points, 8-of-13 FG, 3-of-4 treys), the Eagles swatted down the Swedes of Bethany (Kan.) College, 91-80, at the Mueller Sports Center.
OKWU improved to 10-6 overall and 7-3 in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference — and also accumulated some momentum surging forward.
Complementing Stanek’s net-burning display was Jaden Lietzke’s most productive performance in a month or more — 17 points 15 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals.
Yashi McKenzie and Derrick Talton Jr. added 15 and 13 points, respectively.
Talton also notched a twin-double with 10 assists; he turned the ball over only one time in 34 minutes.
Nick Bene added nine points.
Dylan Phillip dialed in a big effort in just 11 minutes — seven points, five rebounds and a steal.
Kenny Haynes poured in 32 points — including seven three-pointers — for Bethany. Emmanuel Akpan and David Spencer added 17 and 12 points, respectively.
OKWU — which is coached by Donnie Bostwick — dominated in second chance points (15 to 5) and bench points (18 to 5).
The 91 points was a season high for OKWU in KCAC play and the team’s second-biggest total overall.
But the Eagles’ defense continues to struggle to re-establish its identity. The Eagles have allowed 80-or-more-points in the three of their last four games, after just once in the first 12 games.
Next up, the Eagles travel Wednesday (Jan. 15) to Ottawa, Kan. to take on the Braves of Ottawa University.
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Oklahoma Wesleyan University’s Gracie Alexander (5) drives the ball during earlier season action. The Lady Eagles defeated Bethany, 60-56 on Jan. 13, 2025 at home.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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Women: OKWU 60, Bethany 56
The OKWU Lady Eagles whittled out their fourth conference win by downing the Bethany College women, 60-56, on Monday at the Mueller Sports Center.
Bethany scored only eight points in the second quarter to open the door for OKWU (7-9, 4-6) for the much-needed triumph.
Gracie Alexander and Rashaan Smith both netted 12 points to pace the OKWU offense. Shade Richardson dropped in 10 points followed by Zariah Tillman and Tatiana Gilford with nine apiece.
Smith also yanked down eight rebounds while Richardson and Tillman each spooned out five assists.
Khassidy Warr contributed six rebounds and three steals.
For Bethany, Jaden Newfarmer harvested 10 points and 11 rebounds. Celina Eisenhardt added 12 points and five boards.
Heidi Messer coaches the Lady Eagles, who are set to board the bus on Wednesday for Ottawa (Kan.) University.