OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Jan. 8, 2009) – Oklahoma City University came out on top in the first 2009 installment of the "Backyard Brawl" with Oklahoma Christian University Thursday night.

OCU's women claimed a 72-53 win over the Lady Eagles while OCU's men rallied to defeat the Eagles, 88-77.

In the men's game, No. 24 OCU used 76 percent shooting (19-of-25) in the second half to overcome a 44-39 halftime deficit.

The 11th-ranked Eagles led most of the first half on the strength of Jason Taylor's 16 points and Jon Jonsson's 14 points off the bench. But the Stars scored the first seven points after intermission and trailed just once more the rest of the way.

OCU tied it at 49, then went on top 52-49 with back-to-back traditional three-point plays by Jamel White and DaVell Jackson.

The game hung in the balance over the next several minutes, but a 12-4 run – punctuated by a Rodney Alexander lob dunk and a Jamarcus Ellis three-pointer – pushed OCU's advantage to 71-60 with 6:59 left.

OC pulled within 79-73 on a Jeff Crocker trey at the 3:02 mark, but the Eagles got no closer in falling to 3-3 in the Sooner Athletic Conference and 10-4 overall. OCU moved to 4-2 and 11-3, respectively.

Alexander (21 points) led five players in double figures for the Stars. OC's Taylor scored a game-high 23 points.

In the women's game, No. 2 Oklahoma City used an early 16-3 run to break open a close game, then held off a late Lady Eagle charge to improve to 5-1 in the SAC and 13-1 overall.

After Brittney Kennedy scored to give 18th-ranked Oklahoma Christian an 8-6 lead, Brett Bates and Erika Ferrell combined for 14 of OCU's next 16 points as the Stars ran out to a 22-11 advantage.

OCU led 34-23 at halftime, and maintained a 49-38 edge midway through the second half when OC threatened to rally. Baskets by Hillary Duncan and Kailan DeCamp along with free throws from Charlotte Heron helped the Lady Eagles pull within 50-44 with 7:20 remaining.

But the Stars scored the next six points and their lead never fell below double digits again.

Holly Hardin (18 points), Ferrell (14 points) and Bates (13 points) led OCU while Duncan paced Oklahoma Christian with 13 points.

The Lady Eagles (3-3, 10-4) and Eagles return home Saturday to face Mid-America Christian (Okla.) University. The women's game starts at 6 p.m. followed by the men's game at 8 p.m.

-OC-