Box Score WICHITA, Kan. (Jan. 27, 2018) – There was no sugar-coating this one, and Oklahoma Christian men's basketball coach
Cory Cole knew it.
Oklahoma Christian shot a season-low 26.7 percent from the field, got outrebounded 51-30, turned the ball over 18 times and rarely challenged while losing 79-51 to Newman (Kan.) on Saturday afternoon at Fugate Gymnasium.
The point total for OC (7-12, 3-5 Heartland Conference) was its lowest since a 68-50 loss on New Year's Day at St. Mary's (Texas) in 2015. The good news for the Eagles? It's only one game.
"It's the most disappointing loss of the season. We just laid an egg," Cole said. "We had an off night, with a great week of practice. I'm shocked and surprised, because these guys were ready. Everyone is healthy and in good spirits and understood our game plan. We just didn't come out and put it together. It happens like that. Give Newman credit. They jumped on us early.
"We're still in a good spot in the conference. We're not in last, and we can still play our way up."
OC started the game in horrific fashion, hitting just one of its first 14 field-goal attempts and committing 10 turnovers in the first 13 minutes. That allowed Newman (9-11, 5-4) to build a commanding 25-8 lead and the Eagles came no closer than 11 points the rest of the way.
"We couldn't even catch the ball," Cole said. "It was like we were playing soccer with the basketball."
The Jets led 40-23 at halftime and were up by as many as 36 points in the second half. OC played the second half without starting center
Will Lienhard, who hit his head on the floor while being fouled on a rebound late in the first half. One of OC's starting forwards,
Roderick Smith, was limited to three minutes in the first half and just 13 overall because of foul trouble.
OC's reserves made a late run, outscoring Newman 16-8 over the final 7½ minutes, to make the final score look more respectable.
"You've got to get up for everybody, show that respect," Cole said. "Today we learned a lesson. We thought we could come in and maybe just show up. You can't 'show up' on any given day. You just can't. It's tough to learn that lesson."
Elijah Strickland (14 points) and
Jordan Box (10 points) were the only Eagles to reach double figures in scoring.
Cameron Goldfinch scored a career-high 19 points (going 4 of 7 from 3-point range) to lead Newman, while forward Kevin Bryant had 18 points, 17 rebounds and four assists and Demetrius Walker added 10 points. Newman shot 48.1 percent from the field.
The Eagles will visit St. Edward's (Texas) on Thursday night before returning home to host Rogers State next Saturday.
