OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 18, 2021) – Six Oklahoma Christian basketball players scored in double figures as the OC built a huge early lead, then coasted to a 91-63 rout of Champion Christian (Ark.) in the Eagles' Nest in their home opener for the 2021-22 season.
OC (1-2) shot 51.3 percent from the field and posted a 53-31 rebounding advantage over the Tigers, who compete at the National Christian College Athletic Association Division II level. Champion Christian's primary bright spot was Braylon Hawkins, who poured in 35 points (on 12-of-19 shooting) and grabbed seven rebounds. He and Ariyon Williams (14 points) provided most of the Tigers' offense.
Meanwhile, the scoring came from up and down the lineup for OC.
Karlyn Kenner made 3 of 7 3-point attempts and scored 13 points for the Eagles,
Moun'Tae Edmundson made 6 of 9 shots and also scored 13 points, as did freshman guard
Calaway Dykes, who went 5 of 8 from the field, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range.
Second-year freshman
Nyk Madison added 12 points and seven rebounds, while junior
D.J. Walter and sophomore
Justin Nimmer scored 10 points each, with Nimmer missing only one of his six field-goal attempts. Sophomore center
Hunter Staten just missed a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.
"It was good to get one under our belt tonight," OC coach
Kendre Talley said. "Every game we continue to grow and get better. We had multiple guys in double figures, and the good thing about that is new guys are contributing. Even though we had guys score the ball, the one thing that stands out to me is 25 assists. If we continue to share the ball, we can be a really good team."
Walter hit a 3-pointer in the first 10 seconds of the game and the Eagles never trailed. Up 13-10, they held Champion Christian scoreless for six minutes, scoring 16 straight points and going up 29-10 on a short hook shot in the lane by Madison. By halftime, OC's lead was 48-23.
Hawkins kept the Tigers within shouting distance after halftime, pulling them within 65-49 with a basket with 10:39 left, but an 11-0 run by the Eagles after that ended all doubt.
OC will host NCAA Division II foe Northeastern State on Saturday at 5 p.m. It will be the first trip to OC for the RiverHawks since Nov. 15, 1993, when both teams competed in the NAIA. The Eagles then will travel to nearby Bethany to take on archrival Southern Nazarene on Tuesday.
"As a competitor, I want us to be at our best right now, and we still have a long way to go," Talley said. "These guys are making strides in the right direction and we will continue to improve. These next two games will be tough! So we will enjoy our first win and get right back to the grind and getting prepared."
