Box Score LUBBOCK, Texas (Jan. 20, 2018) – When Oklahoma Christian has been most successful this basketball season, it's done so by playing strong defense, and coach Cory Cole said that just didn't happen Saturday afternoon at Lubbock Christian (Texas).

Lubbock Christian shot 54.7 percent from the field – making eight straight shots in one key stretch – and cruised to an 89-74 win over OC at the Rip Griffin Center.

OC (7-11, 3-4 Heartland Conference) connected only 41.3 percent of its shots and committed 15 turnovers against Lubbock Christian (8-10, 4-3). Guards Elijah Strickland (20 points) and Jordan Box (18 points) fared well, but only one other OC player reached double figures in scoring, while five Chaparrals did so, led by center Brennen Fowler, who had 22 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots.

"We didn't defend like we needed to," Cole said. "We gave up too much dribble penetration, our transition defense was inconsistent and we had some breakdowns that hurt us, and they took advantage.

"We continue to play hard and compete, but we have to execute better and that's on me. I've got to get my team in the right spots. Give LCU credit – they came out and kicked us in the gut and didn't back off."

The Eagles looked sharp early, scoring 11 straight points to take a 19-15 lead with 10:46 left in the first half. Seven straight points by Lubbock Christian put the Chaparrals ahead, and after Box tied the game at 22-22 with a 3-pointer at the 8:58 mark, LCU seized control with a 17-8 run. Isaac Asrat's bucket with 1:59 left in the half put LCU up 39-30 and the Chaparrals led 43-36 at halftime.

Roderick Smith had two quick baskets for OC in the first 62 seconds of the second half to pull the Eagles within 43-40, but LCU then went on a 25-11 run. Asrat's layup with 11:40 left was the Chaparrals' eighth straight successful field goal and it gave them a 68-51 lead with 11:40 left.

OC came no closer than 11 points the rest of the way. Charles Shaw (10 points, five assists) joined Strickland and Box in scoring in double figures. The Eagles did outrebound LCU 41-32, with Abel Rodriguez leading OC with seven.

Ja'Qualyn Gilbreath scored 17 points and had five assists for Lubbock Christian, while Jay Workman had 14 points and five assists, Marcos Schuster had 12 points and Asrat had 11.

The Eagles will be back on the Heartland road next Saturday, facing Newman (Kan.).