Wolfpack Ride Hot Shooting Night to 93-75 Home Victory Over Minnesota North Hibbing

Bemidji, MN - The Oak Hills Christian College Wolfpack men's basketball team put together one of their most complete performances of the season on Wednesday night, earning a 93–75 win over the Minnesota North College Hibbing Cardinals. Behind explosive scoring from their starting backcourt and a dominant effort on the glass, Oak Hills controlled the second half and secured their first home victory of the year. 

The Wolfpack offense found its rhythm early, knocking down nine first-half three-pointers and building a 46–38 advantage at the break. Oak Hills continued to surge in the second half, shooting efficiently from deep and converting 20 free throws overall while holding the Cardinals under 45% shooting. The win featured several standout individual efforts, headlined by another elite performance from junior guard Tyrecke Francois (Pompano Beach, FL), who powered the Wolfpack on both ends. 

Francois Leads the Charge with Big Double-Double

Francois delivered a team-high 34 points, going 11-for-26 from the field and knocking down three triples, but it was his work on the boards that set the tone. The junior guard grabbed 12 rebounds, including four on the offensive end, while adding four assists and three steals. He scored 22 of his points in the second half as Oak Hills pulled away. 

Wilson, McCracken & Keepers Fuel Balanced Wolfpack Attack

Oak Hills showcased a well-rounded offensive night, with multiple starters stepping up behind Francois:

• Senior Keith Wilson (Pompano Beach, FL) poured in 25 points, including six three-pointers, while contributing seven assists and four rebounds. He scored 17 first-half points to help build early separation. 

• Junior Lanygel McCracken (Pensacola, FL) finished with a monster 22-rebound, 16-point double-double, dominating the interior on both ends and grabbing seven offensive boards. His interior presence sparked extended possessions throughout the night. 

• Senior Bryson Keepers (Sheldon, WI) added 10 points, four rebounds, and a team-high five steals, providing defensive pressure that disrupted Hibbing's ball movement. 

Oak Hills won the rebounding battle 43–38. They also converted 22 points off turnovers, forcing 19 Hibbing giveaways. 

First-Half Highlights

The Wolfpack built their early cushion behind efficient perimeter shooting and active hands defensively. Wilson buried back-to-back threes to open an early lead, while McCracken and Francois worked the midrange and offensive glass. Oak Hills took advantage of Hibbing's turnovers, scoring nine fast-break or transition points in the opening period.

Despite Hibbing shooting 48% in the first half, the Wolfpack maintained control thanks to 17-made field goals—nine of them from deep—and 18 combined points from Francois and Wilson. 

Second-Half Surge Secures the Win

Oak Hills turned up the defensive pressure after halftime, holding Hibbing to just 37 points in the second period. Francois took over offensively, Wilson continued to create both scoring and passing opportunities, and McCracken relentlessly pounded the boards.

The Wolfpack led by as many as 20 points late in the contest and never allowed the Cardinals back within single digits in the final six minutes. Their 47-point second half sealed a confident home victory.

Coach Lundeen on the Win

"Really happy to get a win under our belt. We've got good shooters on this team, but we just haven't been hitting, so it was nice to see the ball go in early and often today.

I thought we did a much better job of getting downhill and attacking today, which opened up a lot of things for us. Keith hitting from deep is something we've been waiting for and it was great to see him on fire from the start.

We also dominated on the glass for most of the game which was great against a bigger opponent. Twenty-two rebounds from Lanygel and twelve from Tyrecke was huge for us.

I am very proud of our overall effort tonight, and excited to get back at it this weekend."

Next Up

The Wolfpack now turn their attention to a two-game road trip in Plymouth, MN. On Friday, December 12, Oak Hills will face Faith Baptist Bible College in a neutral-site matchup hosted by Free Lutheran Bible College. The Wolfpack will return to the court on Saturday, taking on Free Lutheran Bible College to close out the weekend slate.

Photo by Emmy Allen