Wolfpack Battle Crown in 71–69 Thriller on 20-Year Championship Anniversary Night

Bemidji, MN – The Oak Hills Christian College Wolfpack Men's Basketball team battled fiercely on their home court Friday night but came up just short in a 71–69 loss to Crown College (St. Bonifacious, MN). The contest showcased Oak Hills' grit and second-half resilience as the Wolfpack erased a halftime deficit and nearly pulled off the comeback.

Crown jumped out to an early advantage, leading 40–32 at halftime behind efficient ball movement and rebounding dominance. Oak Hills responded after the break with renewed intensity, opening the second half on a 7–0 run and igniting the crowd inside the Schreiber Activity Center. A stretch of defensive stops and transition scoring allowed the Wolfpack to take a brief four-point lead midway through the half before the visitors regained momentum in the final minutes.

Junior Lanygel McCracken(Pensacola, FL) led the way with a strong all-around performance, tallying 21 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks on 9-for-15 shooting. Fellow junior Tyrecke Francois (Pompano Beach, FL) recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, adding 2 steals and 2 blocks. Senior Keith Wilson (Pompano Beach, FL) connected on three three-pointers to finish with 13 points and 4 assists, while Junior Nate Vinson (Maple Grove, MN) contributed 10 points and 2 steals in an efficient outing.

The Wolfpack shot 39.4% from the field (28-for-71) and 27.6% from three-point range (8-for-29), turning the ball over just eight times while recording 15 assists as a team. Oak Hills also held its own defensively, forcing Crown into 13 turnovers and limiting them to 33.8% shooting from the field and 26.7% from beyond the arc

The visitors' size on the boards proved to be the difference, as Crown finished with a 54–32 rebounding advantage despite Oak Hills' hustle and interior effort.

Celebrating a Championship Legacy

The evening also held special significance as Oak Hills Christian College celebrated the 20-year anniversary of its 2005-06 ACCA National Championship. Members of the championship team were recognized before tip-off, receiving a warm ovation from family, friends, fans and current players alike.

The celebration was highlighted by a brief address from Head Coach Daved Lundeen and former Head Coach Dan Hovestol, who led the 2005-06 team to the national title. Both coaches reflected on the importance of that championship season, the brotherhood it fostered, and the legacy it continues to inspire within the program today.

"It was a special night having members of the '05–'06 championship team here, and celebrating their accomplishments," said Coach Lundeen. "I want to once again thank everyone for their support tonight, and hope we continue to see them."

The moment served as a powerful connection between past and present—a reminder of the program's proud history and its ongoing commitment to faith, teamwork, and excellence on and off the court.

Following the game, Coach Lundeen praised his team's determination and unity.

"I am extremely proud of the way our guys battled tonight despite being down a couple of our rotation guys," said Lundeen. "It was a great back and forth game, and of course we'd rather have come out on top, but we did a lot of good things and stayed together."

The Wolfpack will look to carry that momentum into their next matchup on the road against the University of Wisconsin–Stout, tomorrow at 4 pm.