Center Will Reinke had 17 points, 15 rebounds, four blocked shots and four assists in OC's 89-74 win Saturday over Lubbock Christian.
OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 4, 2012) – Kendre Talley scored a career-high 21 points and Will Reinke added 17 points and 15 rebounds as Oklahoma Christian used a dominant second-half performance to beat Lubbock Christian (Texas) 89-74 on Saturday afternoon on Dan Hays Court at the Eagles' Nest.
OC (15-8, 9-7 Sooner Athletic Conference) shot 63 percent (17 of 27) from the field in the second half and 52.7 percent (29 of 55) for the game. Led by an 11-of-11 performance by Talley, the Eagles went 27-of-32 from the free-throw line (84.4 percent), making 15 straight during one stretch.
"We had everything clicking in the second half," OC coach Dan Hays said, who credited assistant coaches Terril Hankins, Bob Battisti and Rob McKinzie for developing the game plan against the Chaparrals. "It was a good win. Now, can we piece some more (wins) together? That's the deal."
It was a successful bounce-back game for the Eagles, who lost by 20 at home to Wayland Baptist (Texas) two days earlier. OC dominated Lubbock Christian (11-11, 7-8) in most phases of the game, outrebounding the shorter Chaparrals 45-30 and limiting them to 15 free-throw attempts. LCU made just six free throws, a 40-percent success rate from the line, and shot 41.8 percent from the field (28 of 67).
OC led by as many as seven points in the first half but the Chaparrals closed on a 12-4 run – during which Rashad Sample scored seven of his team-high 18 points – and led 32-31 at halftime.
The teams swapped the lead five times in the first 3½ minutes of the second half. OC took the lead for good with 16:53 left, when Reinke fed Devan White for a three-point play that put the Eagles up 39-37.
Later in the half, an 11-2 run by OC put the Eagles ahead 57-47. Reinke provided the highlight of the run, swatting an LCU shot at one end, then completing the fast break with a lay-in at the other end. He finished the game with four blocked shots and four assists.
"We need him on the court," Hays said of Reinke, who avoided the foul trouble that has plagued him this season. "He makes other people better. Hopefully we can keep him out of foul trouble in the future."
Lubbock Christian closed within 68-64 on a 3-pointer by Jevvon Hunter with 4:30 left, but OC went 17-of-18 from the line in the final 4:03 to seal the win. Talley was 10-of-10 during that stretch. His previous career high was 20 points, set against Langston earlier this season. On Saturday, he also had four assists and four steals.
"Kendre was terrific," Hays said. "I feel like Sample is the best point guard in the league and tonight Kendre played him nose-for-nose and might have had the upper hand. He was great."
White added 15 points for OC. Anthony Brancato and Hunter each scored 16 for Lubbock Christian, while Jeff Ayisire added 10 points.
OC will complete a four-game homestand against John Brown (Ark.) on Thursday night. John Brown is the SAC's hottest team, having won five straight entering its game Saturday at USAO.
"I keep telling people, we need an old-school atmosphere in here Thursday night," Hays said.
