Langston Athletics
Kyle Taylor, Sports Information Director
LANGSTON – Jorori Coleman scored 17 points and led a trio of double-digit scores as the sixth-ranked Langston Lions completed a perfect fall semester, dispatching 19th ranked Wayland Baptist 72-69 Saturday at C.F. Gayles Field House.
Coleman finished seven-of-12 from the field and hauled in 10 rebounds in 25 minutes of play as the Lions (12-0, 4-0 SAC) remains the lone unbeaten team in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Jerami Grace pumped in 13 points and Alfonzo Anderson chipped 11 for the Lions.
Langston trailed by as much as 15 points in the opening half before a three-point bucket by Coleman cut the lead to single digits at 40-32 at halftime. The Lions eventually tied the game at 50-50 following a three-point basket by Tyrone Killings, Jr. off an assist by Malik Young at the 12:17 minute mark.
Both squads tied the game five more times the rest of the way with Langston taking the lead for good when Coleman snagged a three-point miss by Anderson and laid in the quick bucket to make it 70-69 with 37 seconds remaining. On the ensuing offensive possession C.J. Obinwa missed the go-ahead bucket with 19 ticket left which was rebounded again by Coleman. Following two free throws from Grace to put Langston ahead by 3, the Lions defense stood tall and forced a fallaway three-point attempt by Doerue which fell short, preserving the 72-69 victory.
Offensively, the Lions finished the game shooting 40 percent (24-of-59) and 18-of-24 from the charity stripe. Wayland Baptist hit 46 percent (23-of-50) on the night but were held to six-of-18 from three-point range. Additionally, Langston outscored the Pioneers 11-8 in fast break points, 36-30 inside the paint and 15-4 in second chance points.
The Lions 12-0 start is the best season start under head coach Stan Holt. The fifth-year head coach’s record now stands at 98-40 overall, two wins why of 100 in his tenure as the Lions head coach.
Langston (12-0, 4-0 SAC) returns to the court on Thursday, Jan. 3 at Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla. Game time is set for 8 p.m.