By Scott Puryear
Jefferson City, Missouri — The Oklahoma Panhandle State men’s and women’s basketball teams played their final games of the season on Saturday as they visited Lincoln University. The Lincoln women’s team stayed in control for nearly the entire contest and won it 71-51, while the Lincoln men came from behind to get the 81-76 victory over the Aggies.
Lincoln 71, Lady Aggies 51
The Oklahoma Panhandle State women’s basketball team ended the season with a 71–51 loss to Lincoln University on Saturday afternoon. It was the second meeting between the two teams (with Lincoln winning the first, 56-54 in overtime on the OPSU court on January 21).
On Saturday, Lincoln came out fast and held a 34-20 advantage at halftime. The Lady Aggies could not quite get untracked in the second half to make a serious run.
Lincoln’s Stacey Smith had the hot hand and had a big game with 28 points and 13 rebounds. Lincoln finished the regular season with a 12-14 record, and by virtue of their 6-8 Heartland Conference record, they qualified for the league playoffs in San Antonio beginning on March 4.
For the Lady Aggies, Krizia Hardaway was the leading scorer with ten points and Nefeteria Davis scored nine to go along with eight rebounds. Cassie Wood and Chaney Latham each scored six points while senior Nicole Candelaria scored eight.
Lincoln 81, Aggies 76
In the Saturday men’s game, Lincoln was looking to avenge a 71-57 loss at the hands of the Aggies in Goodwell on January 21 and they got it with an 81-76 victory. Though Lincoln led 38-32 at halftime, the Aggies charged back and had the advantage for a large part of the second half.
With 13:52 left in the game, thanks to a 17-4 run, the Aggies had fought their way to a 49-42 lead. However, Lincoln mounted their own comeback and regained the advantage at 59-58 with 6:25 on the clock, and never gave up the lead the rest of the way for the 81-76 win.
Lincoln was led by a fine performance from Lionel Booker who scored a game high 26 points. Lincoln finished the season 5-22 overall and 2-14 in Heartland Conference play.
OPSU coach Jerry Olson said the Aggies played with plenty of heart, but missed too many shots. The loss eliminated the Aggies from a chance at the Heartland Conference post-season tournament.
The Aggies were led by fine performances from Marcale Marshall and Reggie Lassiter, a pair of high-octane guards who are both very deserving of All-Conference recognition. Marshall (a junior) scored 22 points, pulled down six rebounds and handed out three assists, while Lassiter (the lone OPSU senior) scored 19, grabbed four rebounds, and came up with a game high five steals.
OPSU’s dependable Trayvon Williams (junior forward) scored 13 and grabbed eight rebounds, while sophomore guard Kevin Geofroy (an Aggie star of the future) came through with eight points and eight rebounds.
On the year, the Aggies finished 10-17 (6-10 in league play).
