Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 18, 2017) – It wasn't the storybook finish most of those in the Eagles' Nest wanted for Oklahoma Christian's seniors on Saturday afternoon.

OC blew out to a 13-point first-half lead but Arkansas-Fort Smith sizzled from the field in the second half to rally for a 70-63 win over the Eagles on Senior Day

It was another close loss for OC (8-16, 3-13 Heartland Conference) in a season that's seemed to be full of them and it officially eliminated the Eagles from contention for a berth in the Heartland postseason tournament. The win moved UAFS (19-10, 12-5) into a first-place tie in the league standings with Rogers State.

"We haven't gotten over the hump yet in the second half, but it's another tribute to our guys' fight," OC coach Cory Cole said. "We found a way to come back at the end and make it interesting. That's what this season has been about, is the guys have really competed. I say we've learned the lesson of competing. That's something we'll be able to take into these last two games on the road and hopefully bring it back here and finish games next season."

In his final home game, OC center John Moon had 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots, raising his career scoring total to 1,846 points. He moved up two more spots into fifth place on OC's all-time scoring list, past Kelly Jobe (1,836 from 1979-83) and Rodney Fergason (1,843 from 1984-88).

Moon also maintained his lead over Arkansas-Fort Smith's Seth Youngblood in the race for the No. 3 spot on the Heartland's career scoring list. Youngblood scored 15 points on Saturday and trails Moon by 13 points, with at least two games remaining. Moon also has two games remaining – at Lubbock Christian (Texas) on Thursday and at Dallas Baptist (Texas) next Saturday.

Moon extended his Heartland and OC career record for blocked shots to 235.

"We won't be able to replace John," Cole said. "He does so many things that stats don't show. He had another solid game. The things he does are both seen and unseen."

OC seized the lead less than three minutes into the game and built its margin to 28-15 after Moon went 1-of-2 from the free-throw line with 3:04 left in the first half. But the Lions closed the half with five straight points and opened the second half on a 13-4 run. DaVaunta Thomas' 3-pointer put UAFS ahead 33-32 with 13:40 left.

The Eagles didn't go away, though. Dorian Lopez gave OC its final lead at 40-38 with a jumper with 10:04 left. UAFS then reeled off a 16-2 run and led 54-44 with 6:32 left after a dunk by Marcus Wallace.

UAFS led 66-56 with 1:22 left, but the Eagles scored seven straight points and pulled within 66-63 after Marcus Mathieu's 3-pointer with 24.1 seconds left before Youngblood went 4-of-4 from the line in the final 16.9 seconds. The Lions shot 56.7 percent from the field after halftime after shooting 34.8 percent in the first half and outrebounded OC 39-23.

Mathieu also had 16 points for OC while Lopez had 11. Alex Cooper led the Lions with 19 points – going 5-of-13 from 3-point range. Ledarius Coleman scored 13 and Thomas had 12 for UAFS.

In addition to Moon, Keilan Horton, Luis Lopez and Zach Norris each played his final game in the Eagles' Nest. All four of them were in the starting lineup, Lopez for the first time in his career.

"Those guys really laid a foundation for OC basketball," Cole said. "They really did."

Cory Cole discusses the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROhgqPHjttM&feature=em-upload_owner

Senior Day video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecz2QlFxzPU&feature=em-upload_owner

Cory Cole's message to his seniors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjPgGSi8W0s&feature=em-upload_owner