OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 31, 2021) – Every time Cameron challenged Oklahoma Christian on Friday night, OC responded in a positive way, and in doing so, the Eagles started the Lone Star Conference portion of their basketball season with a win.

Drew Tennial scored 21 points to go with nine rebounds, Moun'Tae Edmundson added 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists and Karlyn Kenner went 9 of 10 from the free-throw line in the final 3:34 to lead OC past the Aggies 73-64 in the Eagles' Nest.

OC (4-7, 1-0 LSC) never trailed after the 17:56 mark of the first half, but the Eagles also never led by double digits against Cameron (2-6, 0-1), who tied the game on four occasions. Importantly, the Eagles never allowed the Aggies to take the lead and maintained control of the game.

A free throw and a buzzer-beating basket by Tennial gave OC a 33-30 halftime lead after the Aggies had pulled even at 30-30. Cameron again tied the game at 34-34 and 36-36, and the latter time, OC scored seven straight points, four on a pair of tip-ins by Tennial.

Marques Warrior's 3-pointer with 10:22 left pulled Cameron even a final time at 51-51, but the Aggies only scored once over the next seven minutes. The Eagles took advantage with a 13-2 run that included six points from Tennial and four from Edmundson. When Kenner made his first two free throws with 3:34 left, OC led 64-53.

Cameron made one final push, coming within 66-60 with 1:03 left on a basket by Warrior, who scored 15 points but also picked up a first-half technical foul that stymied his team's momentum. The Aggies trailed only 67-62 after Colt Savage scored while being fouled with 46 seconds left, but he missed a subsequent free throw.

Kenner, Edmundson and Kenner again each made two free throws in the final 43.2 seconds to seal the win for the Eagles.

"We had to show some fight tonight," OC coach Kendre Talley said. "We had a couple of guys play well, but all guys contributed when we needed them to. Cameron is a very solid team that we respect. It's always an intense game, especially with us being the only two Oklahoma teams in the conference. I expressed to these guys that it was a fresh start to a new season and we should take advantage of the moment. We came out and played hard and together. Couldn't be more proud of these guys!"

Savage scored 14 points for Cameron, who shot 50 percent (24 of 48) from the field. OC shot 43.6 percent (24 of 55) and outrebounded the Aggies 37-22. The Eagles grabbed 15 offensive boards, including five by Tennial.

OC will host No. 3-ranked West Texas A&M on Sunday at 4 p.m.