Basketball Teams Split at Southern Nazarene

BETHANY – Hitting several key field goals and free throws, the USAO men’s basketball team ended a four-game losing streak with a 71-64 win Thursday at Southern Nazarene. Meanwhile, an injury bug hit the Drover women and helped lead to a 95-45 loss to the sixth-ranked Crimson Storm at the Sawyer Center.

With their seven-point win, the Drover men improved to 5-10 overall and 2-4 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. The USAO women fell to 6-11 overall and 1-5 in the SAC standings. On Saturday, the Drovers travel to Siloam Springs, Ark., for a 6 p.m. doubleheader at John Brown. Their next home game is Jan. 29 against St. Gregory’s.

In the men’s game, USAO hit over 50 percent from the field and made some critical free throws in the second half to overcome a six-point halftime deficit to claim a 71-64 win over Southern Nazarene. Junior Romeil Perkins and sophomore Avery Stevenson keyed the Drovers’ rally with five 3-pointers in the second half.

Perkins and senior Keith Miller also combined to hit six straight free throws down the stretch to secure USAO’s seven-point victory. The Drovers hit 53 percent from 3-point range and 9-of-12 from the free throw line in the second half. The USAO defense also tightened to hold SNU to 10 percent from 3-point range, and the Storm managed just 5-of-10 from the free throw line the second half.

Three Drovers finished in double figures, led by Perkins’ 24 points, on 9-of-13 from the field and 6-of-8 from 3-point range, and seven rebounds. Stevenson followed close behind with 19 points, seven rebounds, and a game-high four steals. Miller struggled from the field, but made up for it at the free throw line by connecting on 9-of-10 attempts to finish with 13 points and a game-high six assists.

Senior Wayne Gibson, hampered by foul trouble and poor shooting luck, managed a season-low six points and grabbed six rebounds. Senior Tony Jimmerson added six points and four rebounds, while junior Wayne Walls finished with three points and three rebounds to round out the scoring.  

For the game, USAO hit 36 percent (21-of-58) from the field, 29 percent (10-of-34) from 3-point range, and 68 percent (19-of-28) from the free throw line. The Drovers collected 40 rebounds, 13 assists, nine steals, and committed 17 turnovers.

Southern Nazarene’s Mouhamado Diallo finished with a game-high 32 points and 15 rebounds. Woury Diallo was the only other Crimson Storm in double figures with 15 points, three rebounds and a team-high four assists.

The USAO women had two starters sidelined with injuries and added another during Thursday’s loss to No. 6 Southern Nazarene. Juniors Katie Sterling and Stephanie Russell are nursing knee injuries, while senior Karole Robers suffered a broken nose in the opening minutes of the game.

Southern Nazarene opened a big lead in the opening minutes of the game and never let up as the Storm shook off the cobwebs of two conference losses last week. USAO managed just 27 percent from the field in the first half, while SNU shot a blistering 57 percent from the field to open a 51-23 halftime lead.

The second half wasn’t any kinder to the Drovers as they hit 27 percent from the field and 1-of-8 from 3-point range. The Storm kept up their torrid pace by connecting on 61 percent from the field and 6-of-11 from 3-point range.

Senior Christal Merriweather led USAO with nine points and a game-high seven assists. Junior Nicole Sherman finished with a career-high 14 rebounds to go along with seven points and two blocked shots. Junior Christian Brown finished with eight points and two rebounds in her first career start.

Roberts finished with six points, junior Nikki Yager added four points and four rebounds, while sophomore Kelli Keeble notched three points and three rebounds to round out the scoring for USAO.

For the game, USAO hit 27 percent  (15-of-56) from the field, 19 percent (4-of-21) from 3-point range, and 48 percent (11-of-23) from the free throw line. The Drovers collected 39 rebounds, 11 assists, seven steals, two blocks, and committed 25 turnovers.

Four Southern Nazarene players finished in double figures, led by Katie Snodgrass with 20 points and five assists. Others in double figures included Khady Ngom with 19 points, Jamie Morgan with 14 points and Lauren Hart with 11 points. Hart also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.