Box score

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Dec. 4, 2008) – No. 15 Oklahoma Christian University used 9-of-10 free-throw shooting in overtime to beat No. 14 Oklahoma Baptist University 53-48 inside the Eagles' Nest on Thursday night.

Despite overtime, Oklahoma Baptist (5-2, 0-1) fell 36 points shy of its season average and Oklahoma Christian was 25 points short of its normal scoring output Thursday.

OC and OBU traded blows for the first four minutes of the extra period. The score was tied 46-46 when the Eagles finally got some breathing room thanks to four points from Jason Taylor.

The All-American hit two free throws at 1:09, then scored off a defense-slicing one-hand pass from Jeff Crocker with 41 seconds to make it 50-46. OC forced OBU into a turnover on the other end to set up game-clinching free throws from David Jackson and Kyle Tefft.

Taylor led all scorers with 16 points on 6-of-8 foul shooting. Tefft also reached double figures with 13 points to go with six rebounds and three steals. Justin Williams was OBU's high-point man with 14.

OBU scored the first six points of the game but OC shot off a 16-4 run to take a 16-10 lead by the 11:31 point of the opening half. Jon Jonsson made a three pointer off a cross-court pass from Taylor to cap the run.

The Eagles held the lead through the rest of the first half. OC grabbed two seven-point advantages before settling on a 25-20 halftime edge.

Defense dominated the first part of the final period as both OC and OBU struggled to get in gear offensively. The Eagles outscored the Bison just 5-4 in the first 9:52 of the second half.

Crocker hit a triple at 16:28 to put OC ahead 30-22 and the Eagles didn't score again until Sam Stephens made 2-of-3 free throws with 10:14 to play.

That's when both teams began to find their stride on offense. Taylor laid home two points at 9:50 and Tefft executed a steal-and-score play to make give the Eagles' their first double-digit cushion at 36-26 with 9:28 left.

But OBU promptly answered with a 14-0 spurt of its own. Williams spearheaded the run with three treys and when Emmanuel Wilson scored off the glass with 5:06 to play, the Bison led 40-36.

The Eagles quickly evened it back up at 40-40 with a Crocker free throw and a deep triple from Tefft with 2:20 on the clock.

Then Crocker was whistled for a fast-break intentional foul – allowing Brent Jones to put OBU up 42-40 with two foul shots at 1:20.

With the ball back in their possession, OBU milked the clock down before an Al Moore offensive rebound gave the Bison more time to kill. But Taylor drew a charge on Charles Carter with 32 seconds left to give the Eagles the ball back.

Taylor posted Moore on the left block and drew a foul to get two crucial charity tosses. Taylor sunk both foul shots to tie it at 42-42 with 16 seconds remaining.

An extended zone on the defensive end forced an arrant three from Jones as time expired to send the game to overtime.

The Eagles outscored the Bison 11-6 in overtime, with nine of their points coming at the foul line. The 48 points for OBU was its fewest against OC since a 53-43 Eagle win in the 1982-83 season.

OC – now 8-1 overall and 2-0 in the Sooner Athletic Conference – looks for its third SAC win on Saturday night at St. Gregory's University (Okla.). The Eagles and Cavaliers will play at 8 p.m.

-OC-