With Oklahoma Christian and Oklahoma City University renewing their rivalry tonight when OCU visits Oklahoma Christian, we're highlighting the 10 best basketball games in the schools' head-to-head history.
We're counting down Nos. 10-6 this week, then we'll unveil the top five when OC and OCU face each other on March 1. 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."
6. Jan. 24, 1986: OC men 65, Oklahoma City 64, Eagles' Nest. In one of the most topsy-turvy games in the rivalry, Oklahoma Christian leads by 10 with a minute to go, but Oklahoma City stages a furious comeback that falls short.
From the pages of The Oklahoman:
By Bob Colon
The Oklahoman
Oklahoma Christian did its best to blow a 10-point lead in the final minute Thursday night, but held on for a 65-64 win over second-ranked Oklahoma City University before 2,200 in the Oklahoma Christian gym.
Oklahoma Christian missed the front end of four one-and-one free throw opportunities in the final 51 seconds to fritter away nine points of a 10-point margin in the crucial Sooner Athletic Conference showdown with the Chiefs. Doug Bradley scored 24 points – 16 the first half – as Oklahoma Christian improved its Sooner Conference record to a perfect 2-0 and 17-3 on the year. OCU, losing for the first time this semester, falls to 2-1 in the league and 16-2 overall.
"We just waited a little bit late tonight,'' explained OCU coach Abe Lemons. "All those other games there would be something to save us. But not tonight. We started late this time and got beat.''
OCU was ranked No. 2 in this week's NAIA men's basketball poll while Oklahoma Christian was 14th.
Oklahoma Christian took a 65-55 lead on a pair of foul shots by Collis Clark with 1:01 to play. The Eagles then missed four straight from the line and nearly let the Chiefs back in as the visitors scored the game's last nine points.
Luther Burks led OCU with 20 points, including 14 the second half. But No. 2 scorer Tommie Bolden, who is averaging 17.8 points a game, fouled out with 5:43 to play after being limited to four points and six rebounds.
After Clark gave Oklahoma Christian its 10-point lead, Burks hit one of two free throws with 53 seconds left to make it 65-56.
Then Rodney Fergason missed a foul shot for Oklahoma Christian and Lavelle Wilson goaled to cut it to 65-58. Calvin Grigsby scored after a turnover to make it 65-60 with 28 seconds left.
Fergason missed another free throw and Burks converted to cut it to 65-62. Bradley missed a foul shot with 16 seconds left and Tony Malone rebounded for the Eagles and was fouled. He also missed and OCU's Grigsby was fouled at the midline with nine seconds left.
Grigsby missed on the front end of a one-and-one and Burks hit a follow shot for the final margin as time finally ran out on the OCU rally.
"I've never had a team of mine do that,'' offered Oklahoma Christian coach Dan Hays, whose Eagles owned a 35-31 lead at intermission and withstood several second half runs by the Chiefs.
OCU pulled to within three at 57-54 on a bucket by Wilson with 4:15 left and appeared on the verge of overhauling the taller Eagles. Oklahoma Christian then outscored OCU 8-1 the next 3:14 to take the 65-55 lead and set the stage for the frantic finish.
DuJuan Walker had 13 points for Oklahoma Christian while Clark added 10 and Fergason eight. Wilson scored 12 for the Chiefs with Thomas Donnerson contributing 10. Oklahoma Christian won the rebound battle 36-34 with Malone the leader with seven.
"We went to the boards stronger the second half,'' Hays added. "We didn't let them push us out of there.''
OCU had posted three-point wins in two of its three previous games and trailed for nearly 30 minutes in the other.
"Oklahoma Christian has a solid team and I don't know how we'll play them at home (on Feb. 10),'' Lemons said. ""They are awfully big inside and wipe you out on the boards.
"They have got more people then we do. We don't have the luxury of that kind of depth. It hasn't hurt us until now. Certain people have to have good nights for us to do well.
"But I am pleased that we were able to play as close as we did considering how bad we played. We had poor shot selection and didn't do anything very well.''
Top 10 OC-OCU games:
1. TBA
2. TBA
3. TBA
4. TBA
5. TBA
6. OC men 65, Oklahoma City 64 in 1986
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)
