Bartlesville, OK —  

OKWU Eagles pulled off a nail-biting 71-70 victory over Friends University on Saturday evening at the Mueller Sports Center. In a matchup of two top KCAC contenders, the Eagles overcame a five-point halftime deficit to secure their 14th win of the season and improve to 9-1 in conference play. 

Friends came out firing, shooting 45% in the first half and knocking down six three-pointers to take a 42-37 lead into the break. The Eagles responded with a gritty second-half performance, fueled by defensive intensity and clutch free throws down the stretch. 

Temaje Izuagbe led the Eagles with a dominant 25-point, 12-rebound double-double, including two critical free throws in the final seconds to seal the win. Ethan Williams and Yashi McKenzie added 15 points apiece, with McKenzie hitting three triples in the opening half to keep OKWU within striking distance. Despite Friends shooting 81% from the line and hitting nine threes, Friends couldn't hold off the Eagles' late surge. 

The game featured 11 lead changes and 11 ties, with OKWU's largest lead coming early in the second half. The Eagles dominated the glass, outrebounding Friends 39-31, and scored 32 points in the paint compared to the Falcons' 24. 

Oklahoma Wesleyan will look to carry this momentum into their next KCAC matchup as they continue their push toward the top of the conference standings.  

Next Game: January 14th, 8:00 PM, OKWU Vs. Ottawa University @ Home