Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 21, 2016) – Oklahoma Christian coach Dan Hays didn't need to look at a stat sheet to know why his Eagles lost to Arkansas-Fort Smith on Thursday night. The veteran coach immediately knew OC just didn't hit enough shots.

OC connected on just 32.8 percent (22 of 67) from the field, digging itself an early hole and never quite crawling out while falling 67-57 to the Lions in the Eagles' Nest.

Even in defeat, OC center John Moon continued to state his case as the Heartland Conference's best player, scoring 22 points and matching his career highs in rebounding (15) and blocked shots (six). Moon leads the NCAA Division II league in all three of those major statistical categories.

"You're not going to win a college basketball game shooting 32 percent," Hays said. "I thought the first half, our shots were great. The second half, they weren't quite as good and we turned it over seven times. From the perimeter, we've just got to make baskets. It's everybody.

"Terrific job by John. He missed 11 shots, but I'd venture to say five of those, he was getting hit."

It didn't help the Eagles' cause that their trips to the free-throw line were limited. OC (4-13, 1-8 Heartland) didn't shoot its first free throw until the 15:30 mark of the second half and went just 5-of-7 from the line, compared to 14-of-21 for UAFS (14-3, 7-2), which entered the game ranked sixth in Division II's South Central Region.

"Them shooting 21 free throws and us shooting seven basically is the difference in the game," Hays said. "I'm not saying anybody's cheating us or anything like that, but that's the discrepancy that cost us the game. It's not going to be easy."

OC never led against UAFS, but the Eagles never let the Lions get too far ahead, either, remaining within striking distance for most of the game. The Lions' largest lead was only 14 points.

UAFS led 21-11 with 6:16 left in the first half, but OC freshman Geoffery Hightower hit two 3-pointers, then assisted on a basket by Moon that pulled the Eagles within 21-19 two minutes later. The Lions built their lead back to 30-21, but OC pulled within 30-25 by halftime.

That proved to be the pattern for most of the game. The Eagles were within 47-41 after a basket by Jordan Rutherford with 8:50 left before the Lions answered with seven straight points.

The biggest lead for UAFS was 60-46 after a basket by Dalton Glapion with 5:08 left, but OC ended the game again chipping away and closed the game on a 6-2 spurt thanks to 3-pointers by Elijah Strickland and Deric Shelton.

Outside of Moon, the only player to reach double figures in scoring for OC was Strickland, who had 10 points to go with five assists. UAFS had three double-digit scorers in DaVaunta Thomas (16 points, eight rebounds), Alex Cooper (16 points, five rebounds) and Seth Youngblood (14 points, seven rebounds, four assists).

Moon's previous rebounding high of 15 came at Texas A&M International on Jan. 3, 2015, while he also had six blocked shots earlier this season on Nov. 27 in a win over Southern Nazarene.

OC will host another conference heavyweight, Rogers State, at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Coach Hays on the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjwk2rCF9rE&feature=em-upload_owner