OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Dec. 4, 2010) – The Oklahoma Christian men's basketball team came away with the win against Rogers State University (Okla.) on Saturday night with a 64-58 victory over the Hillcats in the Nest.
The game took a slow start, as a basket was not seen from either team until OC's Devan White made the first score with 16:01 on the game clock. Rogers State quickly followed with the tie up before the Eagles regained the lead for good.
A subsequent 10-3 run by the Eagles put OC at a 10-point advantage with 9:30 left until the half. After the two teams exchanged several baskets against each other, the Eagles took their largest lead of the game at a 13-point margin over the Hillcats with 5:26 still on the clock.
The Hillcats closed the OC gap to just seven points with 3:09 left to play before the Eagles regained a 13-point lead with just 1:13 to go. Two last minute plays by the RSU men, however, cut the Eagle lead to nine before the buzzer sounded.
During the second period, the RSU men utilized the first few minutes to cut the OC lead to just six points with 16:09 showing on the clock. Despite such, the Eagles' Andre Vaughn and Will Reinke responded quickly to put OC at an 11-point advantage.
Shortly thereafter, the Hillcats managed a 6-0 streak to come back within five of OC with 11:53 still to play. Minutes later with 7:05 showing on the clock, the Hillcats closed the gap to just two points at 47-45 before the Eagles retaliated with a 12-2 run to regain a 12-point advantage with 4:14 left to play.
In spite of the deficit, the RSU men refused to surrender as they traveled back to just a three-point shortfall with an 11-2 run and just 1:11 left in regulation. The Hillcats fought for the lead, but the Eagles held the Hillcats' last minute attempts with successful free throws to defeat RSU 64-58.
Vaughn and Devan White paced the Eagles for the night with 15 points apiece while Vaughn grabbed five boards and made three blocks.
Jeff Crocker added another 10 points to the mix in addition to six assists and three steals. Reinke and Chad Endres scored eight and seven points, respectively, with Reinke recording 11 rebounds and six assists.
The Eagles' victory leaves them to a 6-2 season record and a 2-1 conference record.
The OC men, along with the women, will head to Northwestern Oklahoma State University on Monday for a rematch on the road. Tip-off for the women is scheduled for 6 p.m. with the men to follow at 8 p.m.
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