MEN’S BASKETBALL KEEPS IT CLOSE BUT FALLS AT OKWU

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Avila men's basketball's five-game winning streak came to an end on Wednesday night as the Eagles fell to the NAIA's 17^th-ranked team, Oklahoma Wesleyan, 83-76.

Avila kept it close the entire game, holding a five-point halftime lead, thanks to 23 combined first-half points from George Williams (12) and Jordan Majeed (11).  Avila shot 62.5 percent from the floor in the first half and kept Oklahoma Wesleyan to under 50 percent from the field and just 30 percent from three-point range.

A back-and-forth game throughout the entire 40 minutes, the game saw 14 ties and 14 lead changes.

With just under 13 minutes remaining in the game, the teams were knotted up at 56 before OKWU went on a quick 7-2 run and never looked back. Oklahoma Wesleyan would not trail for the remainder of the contest.

Avila would bring it to within three with 2:44 remaining, but OKWU's free throw shooting would seal the game for the top-25 team. In the final 2:44, Oklahoma Wesleyan would go 8-8 from the charity stripe to put the game away for good and snap Avila's five-game winning streak.

For just the second time all season, Avila had two players in double figures off the bench – Majeed with 13 and Robert Lee III with 13. Williams (12), Xavier Kahube (12) and Joe Kearney (13) rounded out the five total Eagle double-digit scorers.

As a team, Avila shot 50 percent from the floor and were able to outshoot OKWU from three-point range.

The Eagles return to Mabee Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon for a matchup with Southwestern at 3 PM.

(photo credit: Brayden Cook).