Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 4, 2018) – "Trust the process" has turned into a coach-speak phrase, but trust – not just in the process, but in coaches and teammates – has been what Cory Cole has worked hard to build during his two-season tenure as Oklahoma Christian's men's basketball coach.

His players seem to be catching on. Faithfully executing the game plan through all 40 minutes, the Eagles on Thursday night pulled off one of the stunners of the season in NCAA Division II basketball, knocking off previously unbeaten and No. 4/9-ranked Arkansas-Fort Smith 62-58 in the Eagles' Nest.

It was OC's first win over a NAIA/NCAA-ranked foe since March 3, 2012, when the Eagles beat NAIA No. 1-ranked Oklahoma Baptist in the final of the Sooner Athletic Conference tournament. Thursday's win over UAFS (13-1, 2-1 Heartland Conference) was "just" a regular-season game, but one that has the potential to turn the tide of a proud program back in a positive direction.

All of a sudden, OC (5-8, 1-1) has won three of its last four games and is on a bit of a roll.

"It's definitely a signature win for this program," Cole said. "It's a good win for Elijah Strickland, who's been here for four years and has been in these games a lot. To see him come out and be a key factor in those last 10 minutes and getting us to the victory is huge. It's definitely a program-defining win. It's something that we want to build on for conference. It's a conference win, which is the biggest thing about it.

"Our guys executed our scout, but more importantly, they believed in each other every play, and that's the thing that I've really been stressing. Just believe. It's not the result, whether we win or lose, but each possession. We're starting to get that. We're starting to gel. … Fort Smith was a big, tall challenge and our guys were up for it."

While the result was beautiful, the process certainly wasn't. OC wanted to slow the high-tempo offense of UAFS – which has six NCAA Division I transfers – and did so in good part thanks to gritty work on the boards that led to a 46-40 rebounding edge. OC overcame poor shooting performances from 3-point range (2 of 20) and the free-throw line (10 of 20) as a result.

UAFS, led by Oklahoma transfer Darrion Strong-Moore, struggled with its own shooting, going 2 of 18 from 3-point range and hitting 34.8 percent of its overall shots. The Lions missed their final eight shots from the field and turned the ball over on two of their final three possessions.

The last turnover sealed the win for OC. Strickland, who led the Eagles with 14 points, went 1 of 2 from the free-throw line with 7.4 seconds left to stretch his team's lead to 61-58.

DaVaunta Thomas rebounded Strickland's miss and tried to pass to teammate Kyree Elder, but Strickland stepped in front of the pass and stole the ball, then made the second of two free throws with 4.7 seconds left to give the Eagles a two-possession lead.

"We were locked in and solid," Cole said. "That's good to see our guys weren't panicked. We weren't hitting free throws but we didn't let that bleed into other areas. … It's good to see our guys have that knowledge and maturity to get to the next play and executing."

The Lions looked like they might cruise early, jumping to leads of 8-0 and 21-10. But OC patiently worked its way back into the game and trailed only 31-27 at halftime. The Eagles tied the game at 35-35 on a jumper by Strickland with 17:21 left, but an 11-2 run by UAFS – capped by a three-point play by Ladarius Coleman – put the Lions up 46-37 with 14:24 left.

Again, the Eagles didn't panic, and took their first lead at 54-52 on a jumper by Strickland with 5:34 left. Brett Jolly dunked with 4:40 left to put UAFS back up 56-54, but was whistled for a technical foul for taunting after the basket – which proved to be the Lions' last basket of the game.

Jordan Box hit one of the technical free throws, Miroslav Jaksic hit 1 of 2 from the line to tie the game with 4:17 left and Roderick Smith gave the Eagles the lead for good at 58-56 with a basket with 3:35 left.

OC went 4 of 10 from the line after that, but it was just enough to maintain its slim lead, as the Lions managed only two free throws (in four attempts) the rest of the way.

Jaksic, a 6-foot-11 senior center, played one of his better games as an Eagle, posting his first double-double with 11 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Smith (12 points) also played a key role inside, as did junior Will Lienhard.

"In big games, big players come out and play, and that was good for Miro," Cole said. "He's not been playing up to his standard (or) my standard all year, but he's been putting in the work, so it was just a matter of when it was going to happen. Tonight, big stage, that's Miro. He loves to play. He loves competition. He loves to be challenged and he loves playing for his teammates."

Strong-Moore and Coleman led UAFS with 13 points each.

OC will return to action Saturday at 3 p.m. against Heartland rival St. Edward's (Texas).

Cory Cole discusses the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gG3MCkPtW4&feature=youtu.be

Game highlights, courtesy of Eagle Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QMWDYkfILM&feature=youtu.be