Box score
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No. 24 Oklahoma Christian University defeated St. Gregory's University 63-56 here Saturday night to improve to 10-5 overall and 4-1 in Sooner Athletic Conference play.
Oklahoma Christian struggled from the floor and never led in the first half after St. Gregory's jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the game's opening 1:30.
The Eagles tied the score at 20-20 when Tanner Hazelbaker drained a three-pointer. But SGU forged a 27-22 lead at intermission after OC shot a dismal 22 percent from the field, including just 4-of-9 shooting from the foul line.
The Cavalier lead grew to its largest of the contest at 33-24 just three minutes into second stanza when Patrick Jones connected on a three-pointer.
OC still trailed by nine at 38-31 when the Eagles went on a 16-0 run to take control.
The Eagles cut the Cavalier lead to one at 38-37 with 11:55 left off a Micah Miles putback. Less than a minute later, OC claimed its first lead of the game when Kyle Tefft stole a SGU pass and scored on a goaltended layup to make the score 39-38. The Eagles would not trail again.
Hazelbaker drained a deep three-pointer at the 5:14 mark to give OC its first double-digit advantage at 53-43. The lead grew to its largest at 13 when Jared Mitchel connected on a pair of free throws with 2:17 left in the game.
A late Cavalier charge was squandered when the Eagles converted 5-of-6 free throws in the game's final minute.
OC senior Keith Harris led all scorers with 18 points and also grabbed seven rebounds. Miles recorded his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds while fellow big man John Nottley snagged a game-high 14 rebounds and added seven points.
Charles Baldwin finished with 10 points and Hazelbaker had nine. Jones led SGU with 17 points.
Weather permitting, the Eagles will play a make-up game Monday night at Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva. The game was rescheduled from Jan. 15 due to the recent ice storm.
OC returns home next week to host rival Oklahoma City University on Jan. 25 in the first annual "Backyard Brawl," presented by Bank of America and The Oklahoman. The women's game will tip at 6 p.m. with the men to follow at 8 p.m. OCU's men (18-0, 6-0) currently are in first place in the SAC and ranked No. 2 in the latest NAIA poll.
