LUBBOCK, Texas (Feb. 23, 2019) – On a day when shots weren't falling, Oklahoma Christian wasn't able to keep up with a Lubbock Christian (Texas) team with an eye on the NCAA Division II postseason.
OC fell behind late in the first half and couldn't muster a run in the second half as Lubbock Christian pulled away for a 79-60 win on Saturday afternoon at the Rip Griffin Center, giving the Chaparrals a split of their two regular-season men's basketball games against the Eagles.
Lubbock Christian (19-8, 10-5 Heartland Conference) is trying to secure both third place in the league standings and a spot in the NCAA Division II tournament, entering the week at seventh in the key South Central Region rankings. The top eight teams make the regional field.
OC (9-16, 4-10) is atop a four-team pack of teams competing for three spots in the Heartland postseason tournament. The Eagles will host one of those teams, Arkansas-Fort Smith (10-17, 4-11), on Thursday before finishing the regular season at home next Saturday against Rogers State.
Against the Chaparrals, OC shot just 31.8 percent from the field, including 26.5 percent in the first half. Only two players scored in double figures – point guard
Brian Carey with 20 points (to go with five assists) and senior center
Will Lienhard, who posted his seventh double-double of the season with 11 points (on 4-of-6 shooting) and 13 rebounds.
"It was a cold-shooting day for us," OC coach
Cory Cole said. "We sputtered for most of the game to get quality looks. Our posts did a good job of keeping us in the game. Will paved the way in the first half. He was physical and aggressive attacking the basket. We didn't guard well. We gave up too much dribble penetration and it cost us."
A dunk by Lienhard with 2:55 left in the first half pulled the Eagles even at 25-25, but Lubbock Christian's Silas Crisler hit a 3-pointer in the final minute to give his team a 30-25 halftime lead.
With Heartland player-of-the-year candidate Brennan Fowler playing well inside (28 points, 13 rebounds), the Chaparrals never let OC back into the game after that. Lubbock Christian's lead was in double digits for the last 12½ minutes of the game.
Rashaan Proctor added 13 points and seven rebounds for Lubbock Christian, while Kentton Williams had 11 points.
