CHICKASHA, Okla. — Sterling lost to Science and Arts 81-74 on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Drover Fieldhouse. Julian Smith scored eight straight points for Sterling in the final 1:44, but the late push was not enough.
Science and Arts built an 8-2 lead by 15:41 with Steve Tatsiguia finishing three early dunks, but Sterling worked back behind five points from Gideon Holt and Julian Smith‘s 3-pointer that tied it 10-10 at 14:05. The teams continued to trade scores through the middle of the half, with Smith putting the Warriors ahead 16-14, Khadir Muhammad hit a 3-pointer for a 21-18 lead but the Drovers answered to even it at 26-26. Isaiah Green‘s 3-pointer at 4:25 gave Sterling a 29-26 lead, and Smith added another 3-pointer at 3:21 to make it 32-28 before USAO pulled within one in the final minute. Sterling held that 34-33 lead at halftime after Green’s layup at 2:18 accounted for its final points of the half.
Sterling moved ahead 43-38 early in the second half, with Jacob Babino scoring off an offensive rebound, Carson Shimer adding a layup and Holt hitting two jumpers before Joseph Oparaeke split a trip to the line. Science and Arts answered with eight straight points, as Tatsiguia dunked and Justice Johnson scored six points in the paint, giving the home team a 46-43 lead at 12:56. After Holt’s two free throws brought Sterling within one, the Drovers pushed the margin back out, with Taylan Booker-Brown finishing a dunk, a jumper, a layup and a 3-pointer during a stretch that reached 61-49 at 7:34. The Warriors later cut the deficit to 67-61 on Holt’s jumper with 2:27 left, and Smith scored on a jumper, two late 3-pointers and free throws in the final 1:44, but Science and Arts answered at the line and closed out an 81-74 win.
Smith scored 28 points, made five 3-pointers and collected five rebounds. Holt finished with 14 points, four assists and two steals. Green added nine points and two steals, going 4-8 from the field. Muhammad recorded six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Up next, the Warriors open up conference play against Friends University on Saturday, Nov. 14 in Wichita, Kan. with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.
Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports) and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #SwordsUp. Watch the Warriors’ live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.
