DENVER (Nov. 14, 2021) – Oklahoma Christian rallied from a double-digit deficit to force overtime, but Sava Dukic made a critical 3-pointer for Black Hills State (S.D.) in overtime and the Yellowjackets held on for a 76-73 win over OC on Sunday in a Lone Star Conference-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Challenge event at Auraria Events Center.
OC (0-2) had two chances to tie in the final seconds, but
D.J. Walter missed a pair of 3-point attempts, either of which would have forced a second overtime. Walter played a game-high 42 minutes for OC and scored 14 points while
Karlyn Kenner led the Eagles with 20 points and
Drew Tennial added 15 points and nine rebounds.
OC started quickly against Black Hills State (2-0), jumping to a 9-2 lead before the game's first artificial timeout. The game was tied 15-15 midway through the first half before a 5-0 run put the Yellowjackets up and they led 35-29 at halftime.
Black Hills State stretched its lead to 11 points at 51-40 on a layup by John Shanklin with 10:48 left, but OC began chipping away. A basket by Walter with 3:05 left pulled OC within 60-59 and the Eagles drew even at 62-62 on two free throws by Kenner with 1:02 left. Sindou Cisse scored with 27 seconds left but Walter answered with a tying jumper at :04. Adam Moussa missed a potential game-winner for the Yellowjackets at the buzzer.
Kenner hit a 3-pointer 44 seconds into overtime to give OC its first lead since early in the first half, but Joel Scott – who had 29 points (on 13-of-15 shooting) and 17 rebounds – tied the game with a three-point play and then put the Yellowjackets ahead 69-67 with a dunk with 3:20 left.
Nyk Madison's hook shot with 2:57 left again tied the game before Dukic – who had missed his previous five 3-point attempts – made one to put Black Hills State ahead for good at 72-69 with 2:42 left. OC twice closed the gap to a point, the latter time at 74-73 on two free throws by Kenner with 23 seconds left, but Moussa made two free throws with 15 seconds left for the Yellowjackets.
Madison added 10 points for the Eagles. Cisse had 19 points and eight rebounds for Black Hills State, which overcame 2-of-22 3-point shooting.
OC will play its regular-season home opener against Champion Christian (Ark.) on Thursday.
