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OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 12, 2009) – Jason Taylor was simply unstoppable on Thursday night. The forward exploded for 41 points in Oklahoma Christian University's 78-63 blowout of Lubbock Christian University (Texas) at the Eagles' Nest.
The 41 points is the highest single-game total at Oklahoma Christian since Jarred Merrill had 41 against Azusa Pacific (Calif.) in a triple-overtime loss in the "Sweet Sixteen" of the 2004-05 NAIA National Tournament. It's the highest regular-season total since Merrill scored 39 points against Central Baptist (Mo.) in the same year.
The school record belongs to Norvell Brown, who scored 44 points in a 1981 game against Rockmont. Taylor upped his SAC-leading points-per-game total to 23.5 with the effort.
Taylor's final stat line read: 15-of-23 from the field, 1-of-2 from three-point range, and 10-of-11 at the free-throw line. He also added seven rebounds and two assists.
"It was awesome to accomplish," Taylor said. "But it really was just through the flow of our offense. Jeff Crocker makes passes I can't even see coming through the defense, and somehow he finds me, and all I have to do is lay it up. But we played well overall and to win feels better than anything else."
Crocker finished the game with 15 assists – shattering his career high of 10 – and seven points. Chad Endres also made a major contribution with 14 points on 4-of-4 three-point shooting.
"I thought our decision making was really good tonight," OC head coach Dan Hays said. "We finally got our back cutting going and our timing was good. Jeff Crocker was fantastic drawing defenders and finding Jason, who is just an outstanding finisher. A lot of guys play well though, especially Chad Endres and Kyle Tefft. We just have to keep inching closer in this thing and we'll be fine".
The Eagles rode 17 first-half points from Taylor to a 32-24 halftime lead. He went 6-of-12 from the field and was 4-of-5 at the foul line in the opening stanza. The second half is when the 6-7 junior pressed his foot to the gas pedal, with 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting.
OC trailed 7-3 in the early going before nine-straight Taylor points put the Eagles ahead for good. Taylor got a dunk at 16:34 to start the rally, then later scored inside at 13:11 to make it 12-7.
The points were part of a bigger 19-6 OC spurt that gave the Eagles their largest first-half lead at 22-13 with 8:26 on the clock.
OC scored the first seven points of the second half and never looked back. Taylor got it going with an and-one play inside, then back-to-back layups by Crocker pushed the score out to 39-24 OC after just two minutes.
The Eagles built their lead to as many as 22 points before cruising home to the 15-point victory. The win – which snapped a four-game losing skid – takes the Eagles to 17-9 overall and 10-7 in the SAC. LCU dropped to 12-11 and 7-10.
Tefft got into double figures with 11 points to go with six rebounds and four steals. The Chaparrals were paced by 11-point nights from Kenny Hewitt and Tommy Lane.
OC returns to the Eagles' Nest on Saturday afternoon to face Wayland Baptist (Texas) at 3 p.m.
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