KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The NABC has selected the University of Oklahoma, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Hiram College, Wayland Baptist University and Kirkwood Community College as its national Teams of the Week for games played Jan. 8-14. This is the second consecutive week a GLVC team has been honored with the award as Bellarmine University was recognized last week.
NCAA Division I – Oklahoma
Head Coach: Lon Kruger
Oklahoma improved to 14-2 overall and 4-1 in the Big 12 with a pair of victories over ranked league foes last week. On Tuesday, the Sooners defeated then-No. 8 Texas Tech, 75-65, handing the Red Raiders their first conference loss of the season. They followed that performance with a thrilling 102-97 overtime victory over then-No. 16 TCU on Saturday behind 43 points from freshman Trae Young. OU is now 5-1 this season against ranked opponents.
NCAA Division II – Wisconsin-Parkside
Head Coach: Luke Riegel
Wisconsin-Parkside picked up its biggest win of the season on Saturday, upsetting second-ranked and previously unbeaten Bellarmine 80-68. The Rangers had six players reach double figures and shot 57.5-percent from the field in the victory. Parkside closed out the upset by going 22-of-24 from the foul line in the second half and 26-of-28 overall for the game.
NCAA Division III – Hiram
Head Coach: Chris Kibler
Hiram moved to 6-2 in North Coast Athletic Conference play after claiming wins over Ohio Wesleyan and Kenyon last week. The Terriers outlasted 17th-ranked OWU 88-79 on Wednesday on the road after scoring the game’s final 10 points, then on Saturday ran past Kenyon 99-77. Hiram’s 99 points against Kenyon marked the program’s highest scoring effort in a conference game since 2007.
NAIA – Wayland Baptist
Head Coach: Ty Harrelson
Wayland Baptist earned two convincing victories over top-20 opponents last week, defeating Science and Arts of Oklahoma and Mid-America Christian by a combined 42 points. Thursday’s 96-74 win over No. 20 USAO saw Wayland shoot 63.3-percent from the field, while the Pioneers held MACU to just 33.3-percent shooting in Saturday’s 75-55 victory.
NJCAA – Kirkwood
Head Coach: Bryan Petersen
Kirkwood, the 2015 NJCAA Division II national champions, won two games last week against top-10 opponents. Kirkwood first defeated No. 2 Lincoln College 71-55 on Wednesday before traveling to Iowa Central Community College on Saturday and knocking off the seventh-ranked Tritons, 84-62. The Eagles are 11-4 overall, 1-0 in conference play and on the cusp of jumping into the NJCAA Division II rankings.