Despite 22 points and 12 rebounds by Will Reinke, OC lost 81-79 in overtime at USAO on Saturday.
CHICKASHA, Okla. (Jan. 7, 2012) – Will Reinke had 22 points and 12 rebounds and Willie Harper scored a career-high 23 points, but Oklahoma Christian went just 8-of-18 from the free-throw line and lost 81-79 in overtime to USAO on Saturday at USAO Fieldhouse.
Kyle Hunt had 34 points and a career-high 19 rebounds for USAO (9-4, 5-2 Sooner Athletic Conference) and scored a tiebreaking basket to put the Drovers ahead 80-78 with 35 seconds left in overtime. Devan White went 1-of-2 from the line with 18.5 seconds left to pull OC (10-5, 4-4) within a point before Trell Porter also went 1-of-2 from the line for the Drovers with 17.7 seconds left.
The Eagles had a chance to tie, but Eric Randall missed a well-guarded 3-point attempt from the right wing with six-tenths of a second left.
Kendre Talley missed the back end of a two-shot free-throw opportunity with 20.8 seconds left in regulation after making the first to tie the game at 71-71. Hunt missed a 3-point attempt and Norris Rumph missed a follow shot at the buzzer for USAO, forcing overtime.
"We shot 8-of-18 from the free-throw line," OC coach Dan Hays said. "If we make our free throws, we win the game."
Neither team led by more than seven points during regulation. USAO was ahead 28-21 with 10:49 left in the first half but the Eagles took their first lead at the 2:36 mark of the half and led 42-41 at halftime.
The lead swapped hands nine times in the second half. OC led 52-45 after Harper's 3-pointer with 16:43 left, but Phillip Harris quickly canned a pair of treys for the Drovers to cut into that margin.
Talley's basket with 2:44 left in regulation put OC ahead 70-69, but Hunt – who staged a fierce battle inside with Reinke throughout the game – made two free throws with 1:48 left to give the Drovers a 71-70 lead. Talley's free throw in the final seconds tied the game.
In overtime, Reinke picked up his fourth and fifth fouls in a 38-second span and fouled out with 3:55 left. Harper kept the Eagles afloat, nailing two 3-pointers. The latter, with 58 seconds left, tied the game at 78-78.
On the ensuing possession, the Drovers missed two shots, but grabbed the rebound both times. Hunt – a transfer from Middle Tennessee State – scored to give USAO the lead. At the other end, White drove the lane and was fouled. He missed the first free throw before making the second.
"On a defensive stop, you've got to get the rebound," Hays said.
The Eagles shot 44.4 percent (32 of 72) from the field compared to 40.6 percent (28 of 69) for USAO. The Drovers went 16-of-21 from the line.
Talley added 12 points for OC while Harris scored 12 for the Drovers. Reinke finished 10-of-18 from the field and during the Eagles' three games on the week, he averaged 20 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.3 blocked shots per game while shooting 66.7 percent from the field.
OC will return to action on Thursday at home against Rogers State.
