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Sophomore forward Jordan Rutherford goes for a layup on Saturday against Dallas Christian. Rutherford posted career highs in points, rebounds and assists in the game.
Sophomore forward Jordan Rutherford goes for a layup on Saturday against Dallas Christian. Rutherford posted career highs in points, rebounds and assists in the game.
49
Dallas Christian DCC 1-5
62
Winner Oklahoma Christian OC 1-0
Dallas Christian DCC
1-5
49
Final
62
Oklahoma Christian OC
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Dallas Christian DCC 28 21 49
Oklahoma Christian OC 31 31 62

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Randall in vintage form, Rutherford has career high in win over Dallas Christian

OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 15, 2014) – There's no doubt Oklahoma Christian's outing in its season opener Saturday afternoon against Dallas Christian (Texas) was tougher than it needed to be. But it was a win for a young team, and ultimately, that's what was important to coach Dan Hays.

Senior forward Eric Randall played one of the best games of his career, finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Jordan Rutherford scored a career-high 14 points to lead OC to a 62-49 win over the Crusaders before a homecoming crowd of about 2,000 fans in the Eagles' Nest.

OC (1-0) shot just 38.1 percent from the field (24 of 63), including 20 percent from 3-point range (5 of 25). The Eagles trailed Dallas Christian (1-5) as late as the 16-minute mark of the second half and never completely put away the Crusaders.

"I'm concerned that in every scrimmage so far and in every exhibition, we haven't shot the ball well from (3-point range), and going 5-of-25 tonight certainly wasn't good," Hays said. "I think we can shoot it. We're just going to have to step up and knock some shots down. It's a good win. We're just young. I've got to be patient."

Randall, an Edmond North product making his return after missing all of last season with a knee injury, went 8-of-12 from the field and just barely missed what would have been his third career double-double. He also had two blocked shots.

"Eric was great, and it was so good, because he's such a leader with our young guys," Hays said. "He looked good and he and John Moon are an outstanding combination (inside). It just felt great watching Eric out there."

In addition to his 14 points, Rutherford grabbed seven rebounds and added four assists, posting career highs in those categories as well. While Hays said he wished Rutherford had driven toward the basket a bit more, he mostly had praise for the sophomore forward from Houston.

"Jordan Rutherford played his best game as an Eagle," Hays said. "I'm happy for him and I know he's got better (performances) coming."

Two other Eagles reached double figures in scoring. Moon, a sophomore center, had 13 points and eight rebounds while freshman guard Elijah Strickland started and scored 13 points.

OC led 15-5 in the early minutes, but the Eagles lost their way for a time as Dallas Christian went on a 21-2 run. When Jehoshua Walls scored on a layup with 6:23 left in the first half, the Crusaders led 26-17.

The Eagles responded by closing the first half on a 14-2 run, with Strickland hitting a 3-pointer and Rutherford adding two more during that stretch. OC led 31-28 at halftime.

Dallas Christian used an 8-2 spurt to start the second half to go up 37-33 with 17:34 left, but Rutherford highlighted an 11-0 OC run with a dunk off a feed from freshman Cameron Peters, then scored moments later – also off a pass from Peters – to extend OC's lead to 44-37 with 10:27 left.

Peters also grabbed six rebounds.

"Cameron is going to be a player," Hays said. "He's just feeling his way through, but again – a freshman. Cameron was really good on the boards."

The Crusaders came no closer than five points the rest of the way. Godspower Igben led Dallas Christian with 14 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots. Trent Dawson scored 12 points for the Crusaders.

OC will travel across Edmond on Tuesday night to visit rival Central Oklahoma, then will host Southwestern (Kan.) on Friday night.






 
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