OKLAHOMA CITY – Wayland Baptist secured a 74-70 victory over Oklahoma City University on Monday night at the Gaulke Activity Center in the Oklahoma Ford Dealers Sooner Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament semifinals. 

The Pioneers (23-7) clinched a berth in the NAIA Championship Tournament with the win, setting up a conference tournament championship matchup with fifth-ranked Langston (28-2) at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Gaulke Activity Center. 

Langston seeks its first SAC Tournament championship, while Wayland Baptist strives for its third SAC Tournament crown. Wayland Baptist last won the league tournament in 2016 and fell short to Southwestern Assemblies of God 58-56 in the 2022 conference tournament final. Langston took the 2016 Red River Athletic Conference Tournament title. 

Wayland Baptist came up with a 10-0 run in the final four minutes of the game to rally its way into the conference tournament title game. Parrish Hewitt knocked in a lay-in to give the Pioneers the lead with 21 seconds showing, then added a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining.  

Tedrick Wolfe had back-to-back buckets, including a jumper to tie the game for Wayland Baptist 68-68 with 1:09 to go. Zach Lerblance sank a layup to put OCU ahead 68-62 with 3:43 left. 

Hewitt and R.J. Mason led Wayland with 20 points each, while Mason picked up five rebounds and three steals while shooting 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. Dravon Clayborn sparked Oklahoma City (17-13) with 23 points, five rebounds and seven assists. 

Langston 80, Southwestern Assemblies of God 76 

Langston surged past Southwestern Assemblies of God 80-76 on Monday night, delivering a game-turning 10-0 onslaught in the final 3:02 of the contest. 

Anthony White downed a 3 to even the score 75-75 with 2:15 remaining. Tristan Harper put the Lions in front with a pair of foul shots with 28 seconds left. 

Cortland Blake gave the Lions (20-10) their largest lead of the day with a layup that put Southwestern Assemblies of God on top 72-65 with 5:04 showing. 

Langston owned a 32-16 advantage after A.J. Rainey’s bucket with 5:45 to go in the first period. 

Rainey totaled 21 points, four rebounds and two steals, and Cortez Mosley supplied Langston with 20 points and six rebounds. Blake accumulated 19 points, six rebounds and five 3-pointers for Southwestern Assemblies of God.