Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 21, 2014) –
Eric Randall hadn't planned on coming back for a sixth season with Oklahoma Christian, but during a tumultuous off-season for the Eagles, he changed his mind and applied for – and received – a medical hardship exemption from the NCAA.
The senior forward from Edmond is taking advantage of that opportunity. He poured in a career-high 24 points, grabbed 10 rebounds to secure his third career double-double and added a career-high five assists to lead OC to a 90-59 romp over Southwestern (Kan.) on Friday night in the Eagles' Nest.
Randall was one of five players for OC (2-1) to reach double figures in scoring on a night the Eagles shot 57.6 percent from the field while limiting the Moundbuilders to 37.7 percent, including just 25.9 percent in the first half, when the result effectively was decided.
"It couldn't happen to a better guy," Hays said of the success Randall is enjoying. "He is such an important senior leader for our team."
OC scored the game's first 14 points and was never seriously challenged after that. Randall swished a 3-pointer just 13 seconds into the game, and
Jordan Box added another 3-pointer during the game-opening run.
By the time freshman
Elijah Strickland hit a 3-pointer at the 10:08 mark, OC led 27-2 and the Moundbuilders were 1-of-11 from the field. OC led 42-14 by halftime and even though Southwestern knocked down 10 3-pointers after halftime, the Moundbuilders never threatened to rally.
Effectively using an inside-out offense featuring Randall and 7-foot center
John Moon, OC went 10-of-19 from 3-point range (52.6 percent). Freshmen
Jordan Box (12 points) and
Cameron Peters (11 points) each had a pair of 3-pointers, while sophomore
Jordan Rutherford went 3-of-4 from behind the arc and scored 11 points to go with five rebounds and three steals. Randall also hit a pair of 3-pointers.
With the outside shots falling, that opened up the inside for Randall, who went 8-of-12 from the field, and Moon, who scored 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting and added seven rebounds, helping the Eagles post a 41-30 edge in that category.
OC also took care of the basketball, committing only nine turnovers.
"We're a young, developing team, and I'm getting tired of saying it and it's only November," Hays said. "This is a group that I really love to coach, more so in practice than on game night. I really think we've got a chance to be respectable if we'll just follow the script, and I'll make sure I've got that script in order.
"That's what we're going to have to do to be a good team. We've got to play inside-out, and I demanded it in practice and the guys did a really good job of it tonight."
OC led by as many as 37 points in the final minutes.
Drew Hudson led Southwestern with 15 points, while William Tisdale had 12 points and eight rebounds.
The Eagles moved to 10-2 all-time against Southwestern, an NAIA Division II program that had entered the game with an 8-0 record. The Moundbuilders had declared before the game that they were counting it as an exhibition, so no loss will go on their record, although OC does receive credit for the win.
OC will return to action next Friday, when they host archrival Southern Nazarene in a four-team classic that also includes Central Oklahoma and Southwestern Christian. OC will play Southwestern Christian next Saturday.
