MEN’S BASKETBALL COMES UP JUST SHORT AGAINST NO. 3 OKWU

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Playing one of its most complete games of the season was not enough as Avila men's basketball fell to No. 3 Oklahoma Wesleyan on Wednesday, 76-71. Avila nearly pulled off the upset in the second half, but came up just short in the final minutes.

Avila was led in the first half behind 12 points on 5-6 shooting from Xavier Kahube as the visitors kept it tight with the No. 3 program. OKWU had an 11-point lead midway through the first, but Avila chipped away throughout the remainder of the half and into the second.

At the half, Oklahoma Wesleyan led by just five, 37-32.

Avila was on a mission in the second half, looking to pick up their second win over a ranked opponent this season. The Eagles got to within one just three minutes into the second thanks to a pair of three-pointers from Gio Mack and Logan Bishop. From there, every time OKWU would lengthen its lead, Avila would come right back.

The Eagles would go on a 9-0 run over just a two-minute stretch beginning just under the eight-minute mark of the second half to shrink the OKWU lead back down to one with 6:41 remaining in the half.

Bishop hit his third three of the night with 4:45 remaining to tie the game at 64.

The home Eagles always seemed to answer back whenever the visiting Eagles would tie the game up.

Trailing by one with 2:39 remaining, Kahube hit a layup in traffic to draw a foul and made the and-one layup to give Avila its first lead of the game.

After Kahube's layup, OKWU went on a 7-0 run to take another five-point lead. On the ensuing possession, Mack was fouled on his drive and knocked down both shots from the foul line.

Needing a stop on a possession that started with 40 seconds left, Oklahoma Wesleyan drew a foul with one second left on the shot clock as Avila nearly got the ball back. OKWU hit each free throw to wrap up the 76-71 win.

Kahube led all scorers with 23 points and 11 rebounds – his second-straight double-double. Logan Bishop's 15 points were the second-highest total of his career and James Ross III added 10 points off the bench. 

Avila has another tough test on Saturday, traveling to take on No. 17 Friends at 3 PM.

 (photo credit: Ali Nassir)