Brandon Troutman went 4-of-5 from 3-point range and scored 12 points, but OC lost 64-63 at No. 2-ranked Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday afternoon.
SHAWNEE, Okla. (Jan. 21, 2012) – Oklahoma Christian closed the game on a 9-2 run but Heath McKay made two free throws for No. 2-ranked Oklahoma Baptist with 32.6 seconds left, helping the Bison hang on for a 64-63 win on Saturday afternoon at the Noble Complex.
OC's Willie Harper missed a guarded 20-foot jumper with about eight seconds left and the Eagles couldn't corral the loose ball before time expired, allowing OBU (16-2, 9-2 Sooner Athletic Conference) to snap a two-game losing streak after the Bison blew a 10-point halftime lead.
The last four conference losses for OC (12-7, 6-6) have come by a combined eight points against three ranked foes (OBU, Rogers State and Southern Nazarene) and another opponent receiving votes in the NAIA coaches' poll (USAO).
"It was a great battle, a great second half, a great show of heart," OC coach Dan Hays said. "You just add up all the little things that end up being big things."
OBU led 62-54 after a 19-foot jumper by Jacobi Isham with 2:52 left, but the Bison didn't score another basket. Kendre Talley, who led the Eagles with 18 points, hit a 3-pointer and Will Reinke followed with a put-back to put OC within 62-59 with 2:09 left.
Aftert OBU's Derick Echols missed the front end of a one-and-one free-throw opportunity, Eric Randall converted a three-point play for OC to tie the game with 1:26 left. Echols turned the ball over with 1:11 left for the Bison.
Talley drove the lane and was fouled with 41.9 seconds left. He missed the first free throw but made the second to give OC its first lead since the 11:12 mark of the first half.
At the other end, Harper was whistled for a foul while guarding McKay, and the senior guard made both free throws. OC held for the final shot before Harper's miss. Harper, who had scored in double figures in eight of the previous nine games, went 0-of-5 from the field and didn't score.
"OBU is good, but we've closed the gap significantly," Hays said. "There's no doubt about that. I'm disappointed with the loss but happy with the development of my team."
The Eagles jumped out to a 14-8 lead in the first six minutes, but then went more than six minutes without a basket. OBU went on a 15-1 run to seize control and the Bison led 35-25 at halftime.
OC cut into that gap with a 9-2 run to open the second half and the Bison never enjoyed a double-digit lead after that.
"We did a terrific job defensively, late," Hays said. "They got two or three baskets on ricochet balls that bounced around and they picked up of the floor."
Reinke, OC's 6-foot-10 junior center, scored 15 points on 7-of-11 shooting and added four steals but was limited to 23 minutes because of foul trouble.
"We play half the game without Will Reinke," Hays said. "Will was unstoppable, but it's hard to score when you're on the bench."
The Bison shot 54.2 percent from the field (26 of 48) while OC shot 42.9 percent (24 of 56) and OBU outrebounded the Eagles 35-26. OC made up the gap with 6-of-14 3-point shooting, including a 4-of-5 outing by Brandon Troutman, who scored 12 points.
DeAngelo McIntosh led OBU with 19 points while Emmanuel Wilson had 14.
The game featured two sets of officials. The scheduled officials for the men's game didn't show up on time for the 3 p.m. start, meaning the crew that called the women's game also called the first half of the men's game. The men's officials showed up by halftime.
OC's next game will be Thursday at Oklahoma City University.
