Story contributed by Wayland Baptist (Texas) Athletics

PLAINVIEW, Texas – J.J. Culver scored 100 points – the second-highest total in NAIA history – to lead No. 9 Wayland Baptist to a 124-60 win over Southwestern Adventist University on Tuesday night in Hutcherson Center.

By halftime, Culver – who recorded Wayland’s first 42 points – had already scored 51, eclipsing the 63-year-old school record of 50 set by Roy Young against Sheppard Air Force Base during the 1955-56 season.

“We always script our first couple of plays, and J.J. scored on the first three or four. The guys realized he was hot and kept going to him. We figured as long as he’s taking good shots and shots out of our philosophy that he had a chance to do something special tonight,” Wayland coach Ty Harrelson said.

Culver went on to score 49 more points in the second half as the Pioneers logged the 64-point win over the winless Knights (0-12).

“At halftime he needed 15 points to get to 1,500, then before you know it he’s getting close to 100,” Harrelson said.

Culver’s dozen 3s also set a school record, eclipsing the previous mark of 11 set by Josh Padgett in 2001.

Culver, last year’s Sooner Athletic Conference Player of the Year and an NAIA First-Team All-American, made 34 field goals, out of 62, and hit 12-of-33 3-pointers along with 20-of-27 free throws. In playing 38 minutes, he also recorded a game-highs for rebounds with nine, steals with five, and blocks with two. He was credited with one assist.

“J.J.  has awesome offensive talent to be able to put it in the basket that many times, and I thought our guys did a great job of getting him the ball in places where he could score. He did a great job of reading the defense and getting open,” Harrelson said.

The 100 points came 13 points shy of the NAIA record set by Clarence “Bevo” Francis of Rio Grande (Ohio) in 1954. Before tonight, the second-most points by an NAIA player was 71 accomplished by Justin Martin of Multnomah, Ore., just six days ago.

“I’ve coached him really hard for four years, so I’m happy for him and proud of him. It couldn’t happen to a nicer kid and harder worker,” Harrelson said.

Culver’s previous scoring best was 41 in Wayland’s second game this season. He’s also had a 40-point game this season, and he went into the game leading the NAIA with a 28.1 ppg average. After his century game, Culver is averaging 36.1 ppg.

Culver now has scored 1,534 points, placing him ninth on the Pioneers’ all-time scoring list topped by Kendall Webb with 2,074. The school record for most points in a season is 837 set by Anthony Mayfield in 1994-95.

Against Southwest Adventist, Wayland’s second-highest scorer with eight points was Jonathan Robinson, a junior varsity player seeing his first action of the season.

The Knights were led by T’Cory James with 23 points.

The 124 points came 27 short of the school record for most points in a game, set in a 151-87 win over National Christian in 1994-95.