Men’s Basketball
Seniors Lead USAO to Win

It’s been a long time coming, but seniors Thomas Woods and DeAngelo Alexander hit their stride Thursday night and powered USAO to a 71-64 win over Wayland Baptist inside the USAO Fieldhouse.

Alexander posted his second career-high in three games with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting. The Chicago native also grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds as he outplayed his counterpart WBU’s Danny Storey, who posted 20 points and 14 rebounds.

Woods broke out of a recent funk and scored 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting. It was the first 20-point game for Woods in five games, and it could not have come at a better time since starters Dexter Williams and Tim Nelson combined for 2-of-18 from the floor. Nelson finished with seven points while Williams knocked down 11-of-12 free throws to finish with 11 points.

USAO improved to 9-9 overall and 5-7 in the league while WBU fell to 13-7 and 9-4. The Pioneers, though, are still third in the league standings. USAO is inching ever closer toward the top half of the league. What seemed to be a season lost just two games ago, is now a season to fight for since the Drovers find themselves only one game out of fifth place and two games out of fourth.

Both teams are at home again on Saturday against Lubbock Christian. The doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. inside the USAO Fieldhouse.


Women’s Basketball
Inside Presence Leads Drovers Past WBU

Behind 20 points and 10 rebounds from Yesi Castillo, the University of Science and Arts’ women rolled past Wayland Baptist Thursday night 71-59 inside the USAO Fieldhouse. The win, which improved the team to 11-8 overall and 7-5 in the league, stopped a two-game slide and will keep the Drovers in a tie for fifth place as worst.

USAO jumped out to a 29-21 first-half lead, but WBU fought back and took a three-point lead with 9:05 left in the game. The Drovers, though, pulled away late thanks to a 56.5 percent shooting performance in the second half.

Castillo posted her fifth double-double of the season but her first in three games. The junior post player also added three assists. Charite Lewis posted her fourth straight double-figure scoring game and her fifth double-double of the season by posting 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Kartesha Rambo knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with 14 points in her fourth straight double-figure scoring night. And Je’antel Haynes and Juliana Leite combined for 17 points.

USAO dominated the offensive boards pulling down 17 and out-rebounding WBU 48-33 overall.

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