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THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LANGSTON UNIVERSITY LIONS
MBB-25-40
Richard Clifton
65
Bethel University BU 19-13
73
Winner Langston LU 25-7
Bethel University BU
19-13
65
Final
73
Langston LU
25-7
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Bethel University BU 24 41 65
Langston LU 31 42 73

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Kyle Taylor - Langston Athletic Communications

No. 4 seed Langston Roars Past Wildcats in NAIA Opening Round

LANGSTON – Two players notched double figures as the No. 4 seed Langston Lions knocked off No. 13 seeded Bethel University (Tenn.) 73-65 on Friday evening at C.F. Gayles Field House in the NAIA Men's Basketball First Round presented by Ballogy.

Behind a six-of-12 mark from three-point range, the Lions built a 31-24 halftime advantage over the Wildcats. Langston pushed their lead to double figures three times in the second half, but the Wildcats didn't relent, cutting the Lions lead to 55-53 at the 5:25 mark.

Langston countered with a bucket by Antonio Lewis and a three-pointer by Orlando Thomas off an assist from Lewis and steal from Jaden Williams to widen their margin at 62-55 with 3:36 remaining. The Lions clamped down the Bethel attack the rest of the way, sealing the 73-65 victory.

Fourth-year head coach Chris Wright is now 6-2 all-time in the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament Opening Round, having won six straight opening round contests. Wright has also led his teams to the NAIA National Tournament second round for six straight seasons.

Thomas led Langston with 22 points overall on six-of-15 shooting and Trey Clarke added 15. Thomas and Clarke combined to knock down seven-of-13 three pointers on the night. Collectively, the Lions shot 40 percent (20-of-50) overall, 10-of-22 from three-point range and 23-of-33 from free throw range.

Langston (25-7) advances to the Round of 32 for their fourth straight year under head coach Chris Wright and faces No. 12 seed Eastern Oregon on Saturday, March 14th. No. 12 seed Eastern Oregon advanced after defeating No. 5 seed LSU-Alexandria 89-78 in overtime on Friday evening. Game time is set for 6 p.m. inside historic C.F. Gayles Field House.
 
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