Nick Tate (right) scored eight points for OC in the Eagles' 60-45 loss Thursday to John Brown.
OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 9, 2012) – Oklahoma Christian shot just 31 percent from the field and was overwhelmed on the boards Thursday night as No. 15-ranked John Brown (Ark.) left the Eagles' Nest with a 60-45 win.
John Brown (20-5, 12-5 Sooner Athletic Conference) avenged a 15-point loss against OC (15-9, 9-8). The Golden Eagles have won seven straight games since that Jan. 14 loss.
John Brown dominated in almost every phase of the game. The shorter Golden Eagles outrebounded OC 47-30 and shot 7-of-17 from 3-point range (41.2 percent). OC went 6-of-30 from the field (20 percent) in the first half, scoring only 14 points, and finished the game 18-of-58, including 3-of-16 from 3-point range (18.8 percent).
"I don't know why we couldn't make baskets," OC coach Dan Hays said. "Number one, John Brown is playing at a very high level. Let's don't disrespect them. They were terrific, but we just missed shots. We were fine defensively in the first half, but when you shoot 20 percent, you keep digging yourself a hole.
"We came out in the second half and shot much better, moved the ball better and went to a different (offensive) set, but then defensively, we broke down."
OC never led and was only tied once, at 2-2. John Brown seized control with a 17-2 first-half run, capped by two 3-pointers by Abel Galliguez that made it 23-7. John Brown led 27-14 at halftime.
John Brown extended its lead to 44-24 on a basket by E.J. McWoods with 13:24 left. The Eagles used a 12-2 run, highlighted by two 3-pointers by Kendre Talley, to close within 46-36 with 9:02 left, but Galliguez and Adrian Miller each hit a trey as John Brown answered with a 12-2 spurt and led 58-38 with 3:38 left.
OC freshman guard Willie Harper left the game due to injury in the final minute, moments after sinking a 3-pointer. Hays said afterward he didn't know how serious the injury was but "it's a real concern to me."
Talley was the only OC player to reach double figures in scoring, with 11 points. Will Reinke had nine points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots and Nick Tate and Brandon Troutman added eight points each.
Andy Garcia led John Brown with 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Miller had 12 points and nine rebounds and Galliguez had 11 points.
OC will visit No. 6 Rogers State on Saturday.
"We just told (the players), 'This is a crossroads.' We're fighting to get into the (NAIA) tournament," Hays said. "It's a tough road to go to Rogers State on Saturday night, but we're just going to have to see what we're made of and where we are."
