WICHITA, Kan. – The Newman men's basketball team came back home to square up against Oklahoma Panhandle State Saturday at Fugate Gymnasium, controlling the game throughout and winning 118-99.
 
KEY SEQUENCE
 
The Jets (6-8, 4-1 Heartland) came out of the gates on fire and jumped on the Aggies (5-9, 0-5 Heartland) before they had a chance to cool down Newman. The biggest sequence of the game was from 12:29 to 8:20 when the Jets went on a 21-2 run to pull way ahead of OPSU and thus control the tempo throughout the remainder of the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
-A Daniel Nwosu layup would be the first points of the contest for the Jets to make the score 3-2 in favor of the Aggies. Newman would get its first lead of the game when Christian DeYoung hit a 3-pointer to put the Jets out in front 9-8 with 17:16 to play in the first half.
 
-A Jacob Birnbaum dunk followed by a Nwosu 3-pointer would put the Jet lead out to 16-12 with 15:58 to go. A 3-pointer from an Aggie player would cut the Newman lead to three points and make the score 24-21 with 12:44 left on the clock in the first half.
 
-Newman would go on a 21-2 run to pull ahead of OPSU starting at 12:29 and lasting until the 8:20 mark. Allen Wilson would lead the way with eight points including two 3-pointers, while Kevin Bryant added five points. Both Grant Meininger and Nwosu added three points a piece and Daniel Green contributed two points to complete the 21-2 run.
 
-Back-to-back possessions would end in made 3-pointers the first coming from Nwosu and the second coming from Damien Akao to put the Jets up 56-29 with 5:15 to play in the first half.
 
-Newman would take a 66-44 lead in halftime by hitting 10 3-pointers and going a perfect 16-of-16 from the foul line in the first half.
 
-The Jets would take an 80-55 lead into the first media timeout of the second half. Nwosu would hit another 3-pointer to give Newman an 83-56 lead with 15:37 left in regulation.
 
-Green would score six points in the first-eight minutes of the second half, including a layup at the 12:34 mark to give the Jets an 87-62 lead. Wilson would knock down a 3-pointer to put Newman at the century mark and put the lead at 100-71 with 8:22 to go.
 
-The Jets would hold onto win the conference game 118-99.
 
LEADERS
 
Newman
Points: Nwosu, 27. Assists: Akao, 6. Rebounds: Green, 7. Blocks: Nwosu, 1. Steals: Nwosu, 1.
 
Oklahoma Panhandle State
Points: Jace Kerr, 33. Assists: Malcolm Glanville, 4. Rebounds: Pierre Roddy, 5. Blocks: Riyadh Asad, 1. Steals: Asad, 2.
 
NOTES
 
-The Jets missed their Division II era-record of points in a game by one point. The school record is 119 points in a game back on Dec. 13, 2008 against York.
 
-Newman recorded a season-high in 3-pointers made with 17 Saturday. The previous season-high was 15 made 3-pointers against Oklahoma Christian at home back on Dec. 19.
 
-Make it three straight games that Nwosu has scored over 20 points in a game. He set a career-and season-high in points Saturday by scoring 27.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
 
The Jets will stay at home and take on Dallas Baptist Thursday at Fugate Gymnasium.