MBB GAME NOTES: VERSUS OKLAHOMA BAPTIST MARCH 7, 2025

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Following a home victory versus the Bison just a few weeks ago the Reddies will look to do it again and secure a second-round matchup.
 
The Reddies and Bison will meet for the third time this season. Elgas's squad and Eaker's squad will decide who wins the season series, after splitting in the regular season, on Friday at 5:45 p.m. in Fort Smith, Ark.
 
Rondae Hill showed out versus the Oklahoma Baptist Bison at home. Hill scored 28 points on 11-19 shooting from the field including four threes. Hill's 28 points is the most in a conference game this season for the Reddies and the most for a Reddie freshman since Chris Parker's 26-point performance in the Battle of the Ravine game in 2018.
 
As a team the Reddies dominated the battle in the paint, scoring 44 points in paint and six more points than the Bison off second chance opportunities. In the open court HSU outscored OKBU 19-6 off 14 Bison turnovers leading to fast break buckets. Matthew Mayes led all players with five stocks (steals+blocks) and added five rebounds alongside six assists.
 
On the road versus the Bison the Reddies fell by just three without starter Tim McDonald for nearly the entire game. The Reddies had seven players score five or more points, Nehikhare Igiehon led the Reddies with 16 points before fouling out.
 
Among conference tournament teams the Reddies rank second in team rebounds, first in offensive rebounds, third in field goal percentage, second in turnover margin, first in blocked shots and first in steals per game. Mayes leads the conference in steals per game and ranks 10^th in blocks per game.
 
Oklahoma Baptist enters the matchup 18-10 overall and 15-7 in conference. The Bison are coming off a 90-point performance versus East Central on Senior Night, defeating the Tigers 90-78 in Shawnee, Okla.
 
A balanced offense for the Bison is led by Terry Coner Jr., averaging 15.9 ppg during conference play. Coner Jr. is shooting 31.4 percent from deep during conference play and leads the team in assists with 3.6 apg.
 
In his last outing against HSU Ricky Brown scored a season high 25 points on 5-9 shooting from distance. Brown is shooting 41.7 percent from deep during conference play. Ethan Scott scored a season high 22 points versus HSU when the Reddies traveled to Oklahoma Baptist.
 
The Bison have steadily remained in the top half of the conference all season. Oklahoma Baptist's biggest win came against Southern Nazarene at home by 10. Against SNU the Bison had three players score in double digits, Coner Jr. scored 20 points on 8-14 shooting from the field. Coner Jr, did not play versus the Reddies in the first meeting.
 
The Bison lead the GAC in team rebounding, averaging 37.7 rebounds per game during conference play and ranks fourth in offensive rebounds per game (10.8).
 
Players to Watch:
 
In two outings versus the Bison this year freshman Rondae Hill averaged 20.5 ppg and three steal per game. Hill scored 28 points versus the Bison in the last outing between the two teams.
 
Nehikhare Igiehon has averaged 18 ppg and 7.5 rpg versus the Bison and at home snagged six offensive rebounds against one of the leading rebounding teams in the conference.
 
The Reddies are set or tip off versus the Bison on Friday at 5:45 p.m. at Southside Arena in Fort Smith, Ark. for the first round of the GAC Tournament.