TAKOMA PARK, MD – The Washington Adventist University (WAU) men's basketball team delivered a thrilling 87-85 victory over Oakwood University on Saturday, December 7, during an electrifying Homecoming game at Takoma Academy in Takoma Park, MD.

The Shock brought the energy from the tip-off, backed by a packed house of alumni, students, and fans celebrating WAU's Homecoming festivities. Both teams traded baskets throughout the game, with neither side able to pull away in a highly competitive contest.

WAU relied on a balanced scoring attack, with Rande Harper leading the charge, dropping 25 points, six rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and two blocks. Chase Cooke and Julian King added 14 points each and made key plays down the stretch.

With under a minute left, WAU held a slim two-point lead. After a 30-second timeout by Oakwood with six seconds left on the clock, the Ambassadors executed an out-of-bounds play to perfection, resulting in a made layup to tie the game 85-85. Staying resilient, WAU inbounded the ball to Harper who raced up the court, finding Jaylin McNeil streaking to the right side of the basket with an Oakwood defender on his hip. With two seconds on the clock, McNeil absorbs the contact from his defender and finishes the game-winning left-hand layup, sending the home crowd into a frenzy as he hit the floor in excitement.

 

 

 

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The Shock shot 49.3 percent (35-of-71) from the field, with four of its makes coming from long range. Anthony Perry (12), Jalen Anderson (11), Jaylin McNeil (7), Jaziel mensah-Agyekum (2), and Armon Williams (2) also found the scoring column. Ten Shock players saw time on the floor.

The win marked an exciting end to the day's Homecoming double-header, which also featured a halftime performance by the Acro-Airs and recognition of alumni making significant contributions to the community.

The Shock improved to 3-7 on the season and will look to carry the momentum into their next matchup against Lindsey Wilson on January 4.

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For more information on the WAU men's basketball team, follow @WAUShock and @WAUMBB on Instagram and Twitter.