Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 29, 2014) – Unfortunately for Oklahoma Christian, the Eagles followed the same script Saturday afternoon against Southwestern Christian that they'd followed a day earlier in a tough loss to Southern Nazarene.
OC built an early lead and held a double-digit advantage well into the second half, only to go cold from the field down the stretch. Southwestern Christian outscored the Eagles 32-14 during the final 13:39 and held on for a 61-53 win on the final day of the Oklahoma Christian Classic at the Eagles' Nest.
The biggest number for OC? The Eagles finished just 6-of-30 from 3-point range, allowing Southwestern Christian sink bank into a zone defense that effectively prevented OC (2-3) from getting the basketball inside to its post players,
John Moon and
Eric Randall.
When the ball reached Moon and Randall, they proved effective. Both scored 14 points, with Randall adding nine rebounds and four assists. But the Eagles didn't get it inside often enough.
"I apologized to
John Moon after the game, because we didn't get him the ball, but they were in that zone and clogging the inside," OC coach
Dan Hays said. "We've got to hit shots to loosen up that defense. The bottom line is we went 6-of-30 from 3-point range.
"I keep saying it, but this team is young and this is a learning experience. Give credit to (Southwestern Christian) coach Quinn Wooldridge and his team for executing their game plan."
OC led 23-12 after a 3-pointer by
Cameron Peters with 5:47 left in the first half and was up 28-22 at halftime. The Eagles were ahead 39-29 after Randall hit 1-of-2 free throws with 13:53 left and still were up 44-38 after a long 3-pointer by
Elijah Strickland with 11:43 left.
The Eagles managed only three baskets the rest of the way, one of those a meaningless 3-pointer in the final seconds. Southwestern Christian took a 45-44 lead on a put-back by Vladimir Nemcok with 8:29 left. Austin Turner followed with a 3-pointer and Southwestern Christian never trailed again.
A runner in the lane by
Jordan Box pulled OC within 50-48 with 5:41 left but the Eagles didn't score again until Moon hit two free throws with 38.5 seconds left.
Tyler Turner led Southwestern Christian with 23 points (on 6-of-12 3-point shooting) and 11 rebounds, while Austin Turner had 17 points and eight rebounds. Box added 10 points for the Eagles.
Southwestern Christian, an NAIA Division I program that entered with a 3-3 record, had declared before the game that it was counting it as an exhibition, so no loss will go on its record, although OC still will receive the loss.
OC will be off until next Saturday afternoon, when the Eagles will host NCAA Division II foe Cameron.
