Box score
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Dec. 12, 2008) – Behind a game-high 22 points from senior Kyle Tefft and a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds from junior Jason Taylor, No. 10 Oklahoma Christian University beat Langston University (Okla.) 79-66 here Friday night.
The double-double is the third of the season for Taylor, who also added five assists and six steals in the win. Tefft set a season high with the 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field.
The Eagles are now 10-1 overall as they prepare for a 22-day layoff before their next game on Jan. 3 at Sooner Athletic Conference foe John Brown University (Ark.).
The win over Langston was Oklahoma Christian's second of the season after a 73-63 win in the Lions' home gym on Nov. 11. The all-time count between the old NAIA District IX rivals is now 29-9 in favor of the Eagles.
Tefft scored seven points in the first two-plus minutes to ignite a 14-2 Eagle run to start the game on Friday. David Jackson's three pointer at 16:32 completed the run and it appeared OC might run away from LU (3-8).
But the Lions fought back and whittled OC's lead down to 23-19 by the 10:32 mark with a two-hand dunk from Daniel Thomas. The Lions were within four points again at 27-23 when Charles Burns hit a triple at 7:13.
The Eagles then went on a 14-4 run to grab another double-digit lead at 37-27. The cushion grew to 12 points twice, but the feisty LU squad hung in and used an Alburey Doss bank shot at the buzzer to make it 41-33 at intermission.
Tefft starred for OC in the opening half with 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting. The Eagles were 16-of-33 from the field in the first half for 48.5-percent.
OC wasted little time moving its lead into double digits in the second half. Jeff Crocker hit from downtown just 48 seconds in to make it a 44-33 ballgame.
The teams traded blows over the next 13-plus minutes as OC never went up by more than 15, but LU never pulled closer than 10. The Lions finally broke through the single-digit barrier when Alvin Lewis hit from three at the 4:48 point to cut the Eagles' lead to 62-55.
But OC switched to a half-court trap that confused LU and the Eagles outscored the visitors 17-11 to close out the game. Nine of OC's final 17 points came at the foul line where the Eagles finished 15-of-23 for the game.
Jackson put in another solid effort with 13 points on 3-of-8 three-point shooting. Crocker added 10 points and six assists, while Chad Endres came off the bench to score five points and grab five boards.
Four Lions reached double figures led by Doss' 19 points. Lance Sullivan added 14 and Lewis and Thomas finished with 12 apiece for LU.
-OC-
