Current Situation In Region2/OCAC As Regular Season Nears The End
Recaps of games Monday, January 31, 2022:
Connors State Evens the Season Series With Eastern Oklahoma
Big match in Warner as Connors State holds fort 90-70 over Eastern Oklahoma State. The game was fairly close at half, but the Cowboys extend in the second period. Connors (21-3,7-3) stays tied with Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa for first in the Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference. The teams have split the two meetings, EOSC defeated the Cowboys in Wilburton 103-93 on Nov. 22.
Led by Marquel Sutton with 32 points and ten boards, and Jahcoree Ealy’s ten points and 15 rebounds, the ‘Pokes outscored the Mountaineers 48-35 on the back side in gaining their sixth straight victory. With the leaders having three losses, Eastern (17-5,5-4) is still a contender for the regular season crown, but they will need a little help.
Murray State Keeps Afloat Long Enough For Important Road Triumph Over NOC-Enid
Murray State College upgrades to 15-7,6-3 as they remain in the OCAC hunt via a slim win at Northern Oklahoma College-Enid, 81-79. Lavell Brodnex with 20 points, and Reggie Prudhomme’s dub/dub of 15 points, 15 boards, and 10 dimes, fueled the Aggies. MSC led 42-33 at half, but had to hold on tightly as the Jets surged in the second. NOC-Enid (9-13,2-7) got double-doubles from Jlynn Counter (27 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists), and Quentin Harvey (15 points and ten boards), and a strong effort by Enrique Molina with 15, but it just wasn’t enough to pull off the upset.
Seminole State Nips Redlands To Keep Pace In Region 2 Standings
Trailing by nine after twenty minutes, 43-34, Seminole State had a reversal of future in the second half, winning it 42-32 to successfully complete the overtaking of the Trojans, 76-75. The Cougars (17-4,6-4) are one game behind Connors and Tonkawa in the conference standings, and a game out on the loss side to Murray. Seminole split the series with Connors, and have games remaining with the other two teams they chase (Tonkawa and Murray St.). Micah Lena was the top Cat pouring in 18 to go with 8 boards. Israel Hart added 17 plus 4 assists and 3 steals. Chris Farmer finished with 12. Sando Hill was key in the comeback with 4 boards, 7 dimes, and 5 steals in addition to 7 points. Seminole, a top 50 shooting FT team at a solid 70%, was a sensational 21-25 (84%) from the stripe or the outcome might have been altered. Redlands falls to 12-11,4-5.
NOC-Tonkawa Hands NEO Their First Home Loss Of The Year
The Mavs pick a key road victory with a 79-67 wipe out of NEO. With the win, NOC-T stays even with Connors State in the Conference standings, but the Cowboys are technically in front as they beat the Mavericks 68-64 at Melvin Self Fieldhouse in Warner. The rematch is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 14 in the Foster-Piper. Northern ascends to 16-6, 7-3. The Golden Norse slip to 15-7,5-4, but just like Murray St. and Seminole St. they are only one game out on the loss side from the conference leaders. No stats were available at release.
Western Oklahoma State (10-12,0-9) did not play Monday.
