With three games left in the season, Bison basketball is ranked second in the Great American Conference, one game behind Arkansas Tech. As of Feb. 20, the Bisons had lost four straight games after a 10-game winning streak, putting the team at 17-7 overall and 10-6 in conference play.
Jeff Morgan, the Bisons head coach, said the main thing the team is focusing on now is having great practices.
“We are just trying to go out each day and make sure we have the best possible practice we can,” Morgan said. “Hopefully it will carry over in playing well.”
Forward junior Hayden Johnson said the next two games on the road will be tough to win, but the team has been focusing on defense and rebounding for the past few weeks.
“We know we need to be physically and mentally tough going into those games in order to give ourselves a chance,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the coaches have been challenging the team to step out of their comfort zone on defense to try and work hard on the defensive end. Morgan said the team is battling for a conference championship, so it is crunch time.
“Number one, you have got to win your home games, then steal what you can on the road,” Morgan said. “We have played in the position to have a chance.”
Johnson said that he is excited for the upcoming conference games and going to Bartlesville to try to win the conference tournament.
“It’s my favorite time of the year when every game is a must-win situation,” Johnson said.
Morgan said the team will have to focus quickly on the games against University of Arkansas Monticello and Arkansas Tech University right after they play Southern Arkansas University.
“The main thing is, let’s just stay sharp and make sure we are executing well and let’s see what we can do in these last four games,” Morgan said.
On Feb. 20 the Bisons fell 60-56 at Ouachita Baptist University, who currently stands in third place in the GAC as of press time. Senior Zach Roddenberry scored 23 points and had eight rebounds for the Bisons and Johnson added 14 points.
The Bisons next game is against University of Arkansas at Monticello at 4 p.m. tomorrow.
