Wolfpack Split Weekend Road Doubleheader in Winnipeg

Winnipeg, Manitoba – The Oak Hills Christian College Wolfpack men's basketball team wrapped up a weekend road doubleheader in Winnipeg with a split against the Providence University College Pilots, earning a strong win on Friday night before dropping Saturday's rematch.

Friday Night

Oak Hills opened the weekend with a 76–65 victory, using balanced scoring, steady defensive pressure, and timely execution to pull away late.

The Wolfpack shot 43.9% from the field while holding Providence to 35.8%, and capitalized on extra possessions with 18 second-chance points. Oak Hills also forced 14 turnovers, turning defense into offense throughout the contest.

Offensively, Oak Hills was led by Junior, Nate Vinson (Maple Grove, MN), who scored 18 points on an efficient 8-of-12 shooting performance while adding six assists. Junior, Keith Wilson (Pompano Beach, FL) contributed 14 points, connecting on multiple three-pointers, while Senior, Bryson Keepers (Sheldon, WI) and Junior, Trent Huonder (Milaca, MN) each added 11 points to provide strong scoring balance.

On the glass, Junior, Lanygel McCracken (Pensacola, FL) led the Wolfpack with eight rebounds while also posting 10 points and five assists. Keepers and Vinson each grabbed seven rebounds as Oak Hills narrowly won the rebounding battle (36–35) and closed out the road win.

Saturday Night

Providence responded in the second game of the weekend, as Oak Hills fell 76–62 in the series finale.

A decisive factor came on the boards, where Providence held a 49–35 rebounding advantage, creating extra possessions that proved difficult for the Wolfpack to overcome.

Despite the loss, Oak Hills received strong individual efforts. Vinson again led the way with 16 points, adding five rebounds and two assists. Keepers followed with 11 points and seven rebounds, while Wilson finished with 10 points and five assists.

McCracken turned in a great performance with 12 points and 10 rebounds, anchoring the interior on both ends of the floor and collecting his seventh double-double of the season. Oak Hills continued to battle, but the rebounding gap and second-chance opportunities allowed Providence to maintain control in the second half.

Coach's Perspective

Following the weekend, Head Coach Daved Lundeen reflected on both the progress and areas for growth shown by the Wolfpack.

"We did a lot of good things this weekend. Always nice to get a win on the road, and although we were hoping to get both, Providence played very well in the first half on Saturday, and we weren't able to overcome it. It's been nice to have all 7 of our healthy players getting into the mix scoring the ball. Our balanced attack is making us difficult to guard as of late. If we can tighten up some little mental mistakes, and shore up our rebounding we'll be really tough to beat down the stretch."

Looking Ahead

The Wolfpack return home on Tuesday, January 27, to take on a Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NIAC) opponent, the Free Lutheran Bible College Conquerors, as Oak Hills looks to build on the positives from the weekend and defend their home floor. Tip-off will be at 6:30 pm.