With Oklahoma Christian and Oklahoma City University renewing their rivalry on Saturday when OC visits OCU, we're highlighting the top five basketball games in the schools' head-to-head history.
As you read about the buzzer-beaters, outstanding players and the throw-out-the-records results, you'll see why the rivalry has become known as the "Backyard Brawl."
2. Jan. 29, 1994: Oklahoma City men 92, Oklahoma Christian 91, 2OT, Frederickson Fieldhouse. Murray Evans of The Oklahoman wrote that it was "one of the more exciting games of this or any season."
From the pages of The Oklahoman:
By Murray Evans
The Oklahoman
Oklahoma City University's 92-91 double-overtime win over SAC archrival Oklahoma Christian at OCU's Frederickson Fieldhouse was one of the more exciting games of this or any season. On a night that featured plenty of blowouts, the Chiefs and Eagles provided plenty of thrills.
"That was an unbelievable game," OCU coach Win Case said. "That's one of the better games we've had here in a long time, probably since the Oral Roberts game (in Dec. 1990, when ORU's Greg Sutton poured in a District 9-record 68 points OCU's 116-114 overtime win)."
It was the latest classic in a series which has been both lopsided (OCU 90, OC 42 in Jan. 1993) and dramatic (OC 82, OCU 81 at OCU in Feb. 1986 on a 30-foot buzzer-beater by Collis Clark, who attended Saturday's game).
"Both teams could point to 10 things that if they'd gone differently, they would have won," Eagle coach Dan Hays said. "We're a better team than last year, and ... they're better than they were last year. I think they're a top 10 team. I think there are four top 10 teams in the state, but it's tough to convince everyone around the country of that."
Unfortunately, fans who watched Saturday's game on Cox Cable didn't see the exciting finish, as OCU reserve center Willie Kelly hit two free throws with 10.4 seconds left to lift the Chiefs to the win. Cox Cable's TV broadcast of the game ceased with 24 seconds left in the first overtime.
On Oklahoma City University's basketball team, a more unlikely hero probably couldn't be found. But Kelly was there when the Chiefs needed him on Saturday night.
The 57.5-percent free-throw shooter nailed two from the line with 10.4 seconds left in the second overtime to give OCU the win over Sooner Athletic Conference archrival Oklahoma Christian before 3,200 fans at Frederickson Fieldhouse.
The win was OCU's second at home over an NAIA top-10 team in eight days - the Chiefs beat No. 1 Oklahoma Baptist on Jan. 22. The win over the Eagles gave the 26th-ranked Chiefs (16-5 overall) a share of the SAC lead with OBU at 4-1.
The eighth-ranked Eagles (17-4, 3-2) lost at the line, going just 20-of-36. OCU went 28-of-42 on its free-throw tries. There were five lead changes in the second OT alone. Oklahoma Christian forward Cory Cole broke a 90-90 deadlock by making the first of two free throws with 1:29 left, but he missed the second.
OCU's Kevin Franklin and Cole each missed a 3-point attempt on their teams' ensuing possessions. Cole's miss was rebounded by Kelly with 29 seconds left.
Kelly, a Miami, Fla., senior, was fouled by Eagle center Fred Garcia with 10.4 seconds left, and he swished both shots cleanly. OC guard Greg Brown brought the ball upcourt, but his pass inside to teammate Ken Spencer was knocked away, and OCU forward Brian DeBose came up with the loose ball as time expired.
Brown's off-balance 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left in regulation forced overtime. His heroics came after Garcia, who led OC with 27 points, missed both ends of a two-shot foul with 10.6 seconds remaining. Prior to Brown's trey, DeBose made 1-of-2 free throws with 9.1 seconds left to give the Chiefs an 71-68 lead.
Brown put the Eagles up 80-77 with a free throw with 29.9 seconds left in the first OT, but he missed his second shot. Franklin tied matters with a trey at :14, and OC forward Tondrell Durham's 12-footer at the buzzer rolled off the rim.
OC had four players foul out of the marathon, while OCU lost two men to fouls. Kelly was in the game because starting frontliner Randy Davis fouled out with 2:37 left in the second OT.
OCU led 45-39 at halftime, but the Eagles pulled even with 13:46 left, and led 68-63 with 3:52 left in regulation after Masters made 1-of-2 free throws. That was OC's last point before Brown's late trey.
In the interim, Elijah Maxey (22 points) and Franklin (20 points) each made two free throws, and Maxey put OCU up 69-68 with a put-back with 1:37 left. Ivan Patterson made 1-of-2 from the line with 24.9 seconds left to make it 70-68.
Top 10 OC-OCU games:
1. TBA
2. OCU 92, OC men 91 in 1994.
3. OC men 82, OCU 81 in 1986. (Click here for the game details)
4. OC men 64, OCU 61 in 1999. (Click here for the game details)
5. OCU 82, OC women 76 (in overtime) in 2006. (Click here for the game details)
6. OC men 65, Oklahoma City 64 in 1986. (Click here for the game details)
7. OCU men 88, OC 78 in the 1995 SAC championship game (Click here for the game details)
8. OC men 65, OCU 63 in 1993. (Click here for the game details)
9. OCU 83, OC men 72 (in overtime) in 2006. (Click here for the game details)
10. OC women 78, OCU 75 in 2005. (Click here for the game details)
