OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 2, 2021) -- Oklahoma Christian built a double-digit halftime lead and held off a late surge by Midwestern State (Texas) to win 72-64 in a nonconference basketball game on Thursday night in the Eagles' Nest.
Drew Tennial had 15 points, six rebounds and a career-high four blocked shots for OC (2-4), which recorded its first win this season over a NCAA Division II opponent. The Eagles shot a solid 48 percent (24 of 50) from the field, including 50 percent (7 of 14) from 3-point range to down Midwestern State (3-5).
OC also played solid defense, blocking eight shots as the Mustangs shot just 33.3 percent (20 of 60) from the field. Outside of Jermaine Carter, who scored 22 points, no Midwestern State player provided any consistent offense.
Tennial scored the game's first basket and the Mustangs only caught up once after that, at 6-6 just 5½ minutes into the game. A 7-0 spurt by the Eagles, which included two baskets by
Nyk Madison and a three-point play by Tennial, put OC ahead 21-12 with 8:40 left in the first half. Another 7-0 run later in the half, which included another three-point play by Tennial, helped push OC's halftime lead to 38-28.
The Mustangs pulled within 40-37 with 16:40 left on a basket by Carter, but OC simply rebuilt its lead. A 3-pointer by
Moun'Tae Edmundson with 7:34 left put the Eagles ahead 56-42 and what proved to be their final basket, a 3-pointer by
Anthony Johnson with 4:51 left, made it 62-51.
OC hit 10 of 16 free throws after that. The Mustangs rallied within 66-62 on a three-point play by Jordan Teal with 1:12 left, but
Karlyn Kenner,
D.J. Walter and Kenner again each hit a pair of free throws in the final minute to seal the win for the Eagles.
Walter had 13 points, five rebounds and five assists while Madison contributed 10 points and six rebounds. All nine players who saw action for the Eagles scored. For Midwestern State, the only other player besides Carter to score in double figures was Jamey Sanders, who had 11 points.
OC will host another Lone Star Conference foe, Dallas Baptist (Texas), in a mandated nonconference game on Saturday at 4 p.m. Dallas Baptist was ranked No. 10 in the South Central Region in the most recent Division II Sports Information Directors Association poll.
