OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 2, 2019) – It no doubt was closer than new Oklahoma Christian basketball coach Kendre Talley would have liked, but he learned a lot about his team on Saturday afternoon against York (Neb.).

When it came time for the Eagles to make clutch plays to preserve a win, they were able to do just that, holding off York for a thrilling 76-74 win in the annual homecoming game in the Eagles' Nest.

Senior Marcus Blackwell scored 19 points, including a critical basket with 22.8 seconds left, and senior Dedrian Parmer Jr. – in his first appearance in an OC uniform after transferring from USAO – added 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Eagles. Even so, the win wasn't secure until a third senior, 6-foot-8 Will Lienhard, flew out beyond the 3-point line to distract York's Michael Tolbert on a potential game-winning shot for the Panthers as time expired.

Blackwell and Parmer "are gritty. That's what kind of game this was. I've got to give a lot of credit to York. They have played four games and every game has been scrappy and they've been the aggressor. They brought it to us today. Dedrian and Marcus are two junkyard dogs. They got in and figured it out."

OC managed only 46 shots, but made 22 of them, a 47.8-percent clip, and outrebounded the Panthers 37-31, led by Parmer and Lienhard, who grabbed 13 boards after leading NCAA Division II in that category last season. The Eagles also took advantage of a huge edge at the free-throw line, making 22 of 31 attempts while York – an NAIA opponent – went only 6 of 8.

"We already know what Will can do and he did it today," Talley said.

The Eagles jumped to a quick 17-8 lead, but York started sizzling from behind the 3-point line, making five in the final 6:13 of the first half. The Panthers led 35-25 after Tyreece Berry's basket with 3:55 left before halftime, although OC closed that gap to 38-36 by the intermission.

OC scored the first six points of the second half and never trailed after the 19:27 mark, but never could pull away. The Eagles led 61-51 after a 3-pointer by sophomore D.J. Walter with 9:44 left and still were up 68-61 after two free throws by Johnatan Reyes-Valdez with 4:37 left.

A basket by Reyes-Valdez (who scored 14 points) with 3:04 left made it 70-66. Neither team scored again until 47.7 seconds remained, when Lance Ewell did for York. Blackwell answered for the Eagles before Berry's floater with 17 seconds left pulled the Panthers within 72-70.

Reyes-Valdez hit 1 of 2 free throws with 10.3 seconds left before Berry sank two free throws for York with 8.5 seconds left, pulling the Panthers within one. Blackwell went 1 of 2 from the line with 5 seconds left before Tolbert's miss.

Berry led York with 18 points, while Eric Lenear had 12 and Ewell and Tolbert had 11 each.

"It was amazing," Talley said. "I felt a lot of support out there today from alumni and families. Everybody was curious to see what we would look like today. I just tried to embrace it all. It was a blessing to go out there today and lead these guys. I definitely enjoyed it."

OC will visit North Texas for a second exhibition game on Tuesday. It will be the Eagles' first chance to play a NCAA Division I opponent since November 2016, when OC visited Tulsa.

Kendre Talley discusses the game: https://youtu.be/BT_ntTqeHd0 

Game highlights: https://youtu.be/Fkc-xQeZccA