Bison Are Kansas City Bound!
March 7, 2005
"Kan-sas Ci-ty" was the chant that rang from the crowd as the clock ticked down Monday night in the Noble Complex as Oklahoma Baptist defeated Oklahoma City 82-71. With the Joe Cooper Ford Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament championship in hand, OBU can now make plans for the national tournament in Kansas City, Mo.
"We've put some pretty good games in a row right here," said Head Coach Doug Tolin. "Our last four games have been against people who are going to be in the national tournament and will probably win some games."
Robert Hart led they way for the Bison with a game high 25 points. Hart was eight-of-14 from the field and three-of-six from three-point range.
"He made some big shots and work so hard on the defensive end for us," said Tolin. "He just had an outstanding tournament."
Frank Benson scored 19 points and Leonard Mosley scored 16.
Mosley was four-of-seven from beyond the arc and was 11-of-16 from three-point range over the last two games with Lubbock Christian and Oklahoma City.
"Coach Tolin just told us to come out fast," said Mosley. "They were just sitting back and relaxed. We just shared the ball and pushed the tempo on them. Coach just said let's see if you can keep that hot hand going. He just told me to get ready to shoot. We were confident that we would win the game. We were scratching at this the last two games."
Not only has Mosley answered the call during the tournament on the offensive end, he was called upon to stop each team's top scorer; Brandon Cole (John Brown), Brandon Jones (Lubbock) and Dawud Drew (Oklahoma City).
"He's really had to work defensively," said Tolin. "Jones and Cole are great players, but Drew can do so many different things with the basketball and Leonard did a great job on him tonight. Leonard was on him all night."
OBU took an early lead in the first half and never trailed again. After being down 13-12, Mosley sparked a 12-0 run to put OBU on top 24-13. Then after Ryan Godwin nailed a three to bring OCU within eight, the Bison went on an 8-0 run to take a 16-point lead at 32-16.
Late in the first half OBU used another 8-0 run to take their biggest lead of the half at 47-24.
OBU took their biggest lead of 25 at 49-24 and 61-36 before the Stars began to work their back into the game.
OCU used an 8-0 run to bring their deficit down to 13 at 73-60. Then Godwin ignited a 7-0 run to bring the Stars back within single digits at 75-67.
The Stars ran out of gas though as Robert Hart put OCU away with a pair of free throw to help OBU hold on the conference tournament championship.
Mosley was named Most Valuable Player, Hart received the Hustle Award and Frank Benson was named to the All-Tournament team.
The Bison take a day off Tuesday before returning to practice and then find out whom they will play in Kansas City Thursday.