OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 10, 2018) – There was plenty at stake for Oklahoma Christian on Saturday afternoon against St. Mary's (Texas) and the Eagles showed – in resounding fashion – that they could handle the moment.

A sizzling start by Elijah Strickland staked the Eagles to a quick double-digit lead and they did not look back, rolling to a 97-72 win over St. Mary's before a rowdy crowd in the Eagles' Nest that included members of the Texas College baseball team, who were invited to the game by OC women's assistant coach Jessica Findley during a chance meeting on Friday at a local restaurant.

OC (9-14, 5-7 Heartland Conference) needed a win over St. Mary's (7-17, 3-9) to avoid the potential of dropping into the league cellar, as the Heartland's last-place team won't qualify for the conference's postseason tournament. With the win, OC actually moved into sixth place, easing past St. Edward's (Texas), which lost at Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday.

"It was our most complete game in conference play," OC coach Cory Cole said. "Seeing our guys play at both ends with that freedom, that energy, that toughness, just having fun, guys were really relaxed and locked in – it was just a big-time game, which every game is. But this is a game we needed. We really challenged the guys to bring your best focus and trust the results and they did that."

Contributions came from all over the court for OC. The Heartland's reigning player of the week, Jordan Box, continued his torrid shooting run, going 10 of 14 from the field, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range, while scoring 30 points. Strickland added 23 points, hitting his first five shots, four of which were 3-pointers, all in the first four minutes

"I say it over and over again – Jordan and Elijah, I'm partial, but they're the best guards in the Heartland Conference," Cole said. "They've been doing it night in and night out on both ends. They're playing 35-plus minutes. I'm on them hard … and they're putting up results and carrying this time, so it's good to see them do that again in another big moment."

Point guard Charles Shaw added 14 points, while 6-foot-11 center Miroslav Jaksic held his own against a tall St. Mary's frontline, finishing with 10 points and four assists. Forward Roderick Smith just missed a double-double, with nine points and 11 rebounds.

OC shot a season-best 60.4 percent (32 of 53) from the field and made 24 of 26 free throws – 92.3 percent, also a season best.

Strickland's early surge put OC up 14-4 and the Rattlers – who have lost eight straight games to fall into last place in the Heartland – never recovered. OC extended its lead to 26-12 by the 12:39 mark before St. Mary's made a brief push, pulling within 41-37 late in the first half, but Box hit a buzzer-beating jumper to give OC a 48-39 advantage at halftime.

A 9-0 run, capped by a three-point play by Strickland, put OC ahead 75-56 with 7:44 left and the Rattlers came no closer than 14 points the rest of the way.

St. Mary's center Petar Radojicic scored 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting, but the Rattlers didn't have another consistent offensive threat. Freddie Williams had 14 points and six rebounds while Juwan Green had 12 points and six assists for St. Mary's.

OC will visit Dallas Baptist (Texas) – ranked No. 22 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches poll – next Thursday before returning home next Saturday to face Lubbock Christian (Texas).

Cory Cole discusses the game: https://youtu.be/3RVdG7MG4b4