Men’s and Women’s Basketball
Drovers Make it Two in a Row

WINFIELD, Kan. – It has been a year of streaks so far for the University of Science and Arts, and the Drover men added to it with a 71-47 win Monday night over Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan.

The USAO men stopped a streak of four straight season-opening losses and five straight losses dating back to last season with a 73-48 win over Langston Saturday night. Monday, the team won its second game in a row starting the season 2-0 for the first time since 2003 – a season that ended in the Sweet 16.

It may be too early to talk about the postseason, but it isn’t too early to talk about players like Thomas Woods, Tim Nelson, Dexter Williams, Darren Pore and a host of Drovers that have kicked this season off with a different attitude and different results.

Thomas Woods posted his second straight double-figure scoring night of the season with 16 points. The reigning Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Week is almost averaging a double-double after pulling down nine rebounds Monday night. Newcomer Tim Nelson found his shooting touch at halftime of Friday’s game, and it carried over to Monday.

Nelson scored a career-high 21 points to lead all scorers on 8-of-16 shooting including 4-of-8 from 3-point land. After struggling in the first half Friday, Nelson has connected on 13-of-26 from the field and 7-of-14 from 3-point land. He has scored 34 points in the last three halves of play. Woods is also shooting at a remarkable clip. The senior shot 80 percent against Langston and 50 percent against Southwestern.

Point guard Dexter Williams re-established himself as well. Already known as a tough defender, the sophomore from Chicago, Ill., is averaging 11 points, five rebounds, and five steals per game. Williams pulled down a career-high eight rebounds against Langston and followed that with a career-high eight steals against Southwestern.

USAO joins SAC teams Southern Nazarene and John Brown at 2-0 on the season. The Drovers face a huge test with a road game at Langston beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

###