BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (11-8-09) – For the second game in a row, the Oklahoma Wesleyan men’s basketball squad held off a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference opponent late in the game, taking down McPherson College (Kan.) on the road, 82-77.
Leading the Bulldogs at halftime 40-25, the Eagles had the momentum heading into the locker room. However, the scrappy Bulldogs came out of the locker room fighting, closing that game to eventually take a four-point lead late in the game.
Just as quickly as the Bulldogs got the lead, senior Steve Briggs (Duncanville, Texas) hit a quick three to regain the momentum. On the next possession, fellow All-American Sadiel Rojas, also a native of Duncanville, converted a layup to take the lead for good.
Briggs led the way for the Eagles, dropping 33-points on the Bulldogs in their season opener, including five three-pointers and three assists. Senior Aron Crowley (Vancouver, Wash.) added four threes of his own, finishing the game with 17-points.
A force on the boards, Rojas recorded his second straight double-double, pulling down 11 rebounds to go with his 14-points. Rojas also had five steals to his credit in the victory.
Other Eagles recording points in the ballgame include Murray Shaw with five, Deantre Harlan with four, Kornilous Donnell had three, and Brian James, Levi Mooney and Mike McNeil each added two.
Up next, the Eagles (2-0) host regional rival, and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Div. 1 No. 6 Rogers State University (1-0). The Hillcats come to Bartlesville with a 1-0 record after a 28-point victory of Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) on Saturday. Game time is set for 7:30.