Tweet #theGAC  BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Oklahoma Baptist extended its most successful season at the NCAA Division II level by at least one day as the Bison knocked out East Central with a 73-66 win in the fourth Great American Conference Men’s Basketball Championship quarterfinal contest from Bruin Fieldhouse.
 
The Bison (16-13) drilled eight 3-pointers in the first half as they established a double-digit lead early on the Tigers (16-12). Brantly Thompson made three 3-pointers in the opening stanza. Julian Daughtry added a pair of 3-pointers. East Central answered by scoring 12 of the final 17 points in the half to trail by only nine, 37-28.
 
After Oklahoma Baptist initially rebuilt a double-figure lead, East Central scored 10 unanswered points to pull to within three points at 46-43. Over the next eight minutes, the Bison advantage vacillated between two and seven points. All-GAC First Team selection Camron Talley converted a driving layup with 3:56 remaining to cut the Bison lead to 62-60.
 
Talley failed to complete the 3-point play and the Bisons responded by scoring the next nine points. Thompson made his fifth 3-pointer of the game, GAC Newcomer of the Year Antonio Wade made two layups and Thompson finished off the run with two free throws.
 
Thompson finished with a game-high 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting, 5-for-8 on 3-point tries. Wade added 17 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Mohammed Abubakar pulled down 13 rebounds. The Bison outrebounded the Tigers, 41-34. Harrison Stoddart added 11 points. In their three meeting with the Tigers, all wins, he went 11-for-16 from the 3-point arc.
 
Talley led the Tigers with 19 points. He went 5-for-10 from the 3-point arc. He finished the season with 97 3-pointers, the second-best total in the league. Tylor Arnold scored 15 points and Da’Rion King added 14.
 
With the win, the Bison will take on Southeastern Oklahoma State in Saturday’s nightcap, scheduled to tip off at 5:45 p.m. start. During the regular season, the Bison and Savage Storm split their two meetings. Oklahoma Baptist earned an 80-77 overtime home victory in the GAC opener. Southeastern answered with an 80-64 win in Durant in early February.