COMMERCE, Texas (Dec. 11, 2021) -- Down by double digits in the first half at Texas A&M-Commerce on Saturday, Oklahoma Christian didn't panic and the Eagles slowly worked their way back into the basketball game, taking a five-point lead in the second half. 
 
Unfortunately for the Eagles, TAMUC – ranked ninth in the South Central Region in the Division II Sports Information Directors Association poll – went back ahead with 1:07 left and hung on for a 65-63 win in a mandated nonconference game between the Lone Star Conference foes inside The Field House. 
 
TAMUC (6-0) might be bound for the NCAA Division I Southland Conference next season, but the Lions needed some fortunate breaks to hold off a game squad from OC (2-6). After TAMUC's Alphonso Willis missed the back end of a two-shot free-throw opportunity with :08 left, OC's Drew Tennial rebounded and passed to Moun'Tae Edmundson, whose pass was stolen by TAMUC's Demarcus Demonia at the final buzzer. 
 
OC fell despite a slew of strong performances. Karlyn Kenner went 6 of 8 from the field – including 3 of 3 from 3-point range – and scored 18 points. Tennial added 16 points and five rebounds while Edmundson had 13 points and seven assists.  
 
TAMUC had its share of standouts, too. Clashon Gaffney tied a school record with seven blocked shots, while Willis had 13 points and seven rebounds. 
 
Edmundson's 3-pointer with 1:24 left put OC ahead 61-60 before Demonia hit two free throws with 1:07 left. Demonia scored all eight of his points in the final five minutes. 
 
With 37 seconds left, Edmundson missed a layup attempt and Tennial rebounded, but Gaffney blocked Tennial's follow shot and Carson Tuttle rebounded for the Lions. Tuttle made two free throws with 15 seconds left before Edmundson answered with two free throws of his own three seconds later, pulling OC within 64-63. 
 
OC's Anthony Johnson fouled Willis, beginning the game's final sequence. 
 
TAMUC led 22-12 with 7:07 left in the first half but the Eagles closed to within 29-26 by halftime. The Eagles pulled even at 33-33 on a 3-pointer by Kenner with 16:36 left, went up 40-39 on a basket by Kenner with 13:37 left and were up 44-39 with 12:22 left after a step-back jumper by Edmundson. That was the biggest lead for either team in the second half. 
 
The Eagles will host nonconference foe York (Neb.) on Thursday before visiting another LSC rival, Texas-Tyler, for another mandated nonconference game next Saturday.