Box Score WICHITA - The Newman men's basketball team captured the No. 2 seed in next weekend's Heartland Conference tournament with a 73-38 victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State University Thursday evening inside Fugate Gymnasium.  Eric Saunders led all scorers with 13 points.
 
The game started with a free throw basket by Eric Saunders followed by a lay-up from Chuck Coley to make the score 3-0 in favor of Newman at the 16:30 mark of the first half.  The Aggies tied the game up at 5-5 from the charity stripe at the 12:25 mark, but the Jets never turned back.  After an OPSU basket at the 9:30 mark, the Jets went on a 15 point run, including a pair of three-point baskets from Eric Saunders and Shamar Acuay, and gave Newman a 33-7 advantage headed into the second half. 
 
The second half opened with a free throw basket followed by back-to-back shots behind the arc from Eric Saunders at the 17-minute mark.  The Aggies tried to fight back with a basket at the 12:42 mark to make the score 54-14 Newman.  The Jets took their largest lead of the night with free throw by Mason Felter that gave Newman a 63-19 advantage with eight minutes remaining in the game.  The game ended with an OPSU basket to make the final score 73-38, Newman. 
 
Shamar Acuay and Ryan Mesh joined Saunders in double figures with 12 and 11-point outings.  Saunders also had three steals and was 4-7 from behind the arc. 
 
As a team, Newman shot 45.5 percent (25-55) from the field and 48.4 percent (15-31) from the line.  They outrebounded the Aggies 42-25. 
 
Bill Lee and Michael Patterson led the Aggies with eight points.
 
With the win, Newman moves to 18-8 on their season and 10-4 in Heartland Conference play.  The Jets return to action. They have qualified for next week's Heartland Conference Championship tournament in Laredo, Texas, and will likely be the No. 2 seed. Game times and official seeds will be announced Saturday.