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Posted: Mar 16, 2024 8:04 PMUpdated: Mar 18, 2024 4:33 PM

OKWU Punches Ticket to NAIA Round of Sixteen

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Chase McNutt

Oklahoma Wesleyan men's basketball punched their ticket to Round of 16 after an 18-point win Saturday night in Wichita over Mid-America Christian University, 76-58. For the second night in a row, the Eagles led wire-to-wire for a near 20-point victory. While the scoreboard looks distant, things got pretty dicey for OKWU down the stretch. 

Oklahoma Wesleyan led 59-36 with under 10-minutes left in the second half when the Evangels went on a 22-9 run to cut the deficit to 66-58. The Evangels also took advantage of poor passing and fouls as DJ Talton Jr. fouled out with over six minutes left to play. Down their starting point-guard, Eagle Head Coach Donnie Bostwick turned to his junior big man Jaden Lietzke, who helped provide some breathing room.

The very next possesion ended up with Taylen Miller getting a breakaway layup to push the lead to 13-points, in what would be the dagger for the Eagles.

Those two plays helped Wesleyan close the game out on a 10-0 run to grab the Round of 32 victory. Lietzke finished with his 11th double-double of the season with 19-points and 10-rebounds. Dylan Phillip continues his hot hand as he also finished with 19 after he finished with 22 the night before. 

The Eagles now move to 31-2 on the year and will next be in Kansas City next Thursday night in the Round of 16 to do battle with Central Baptist. That game will be broadcasted live on KWON AM 1400 FM 93.3 and 95.1.


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