CANYON, Texas (Feb. 13, 2021) – Oklahoma Christian played stout defense on Saturday afternoon against West Texas A&M – holding the high-powered Buffaloes more than 20 points below their season average – but the hosts more than returned the favor to the Eagles.
No. 10/5-ranked West Texas A&M took advantage of a season-high 20 turnovers by OC and pulled away for a 75-51 win at First United Bank Center, holding the Eagles to their lowest point total of the basketball season (by a considerable margin).
A 21-4 run by West Texas A&M (9-1, 7-1 Lone Star Conference) midway through the second half proved to be the difference. OC (4-10, 4-10) had pulled within 43-41 with 13:50 left before the Buffaloes pulled away for their fourth win in as many all-time meetings against the Eagles.
Elijah Elliott scored 16 points and
Anthony Johnson added 10, but they were the only Eagles to score in double figures. West Texas A&M's All-America duo of Joel Murray (24 points) and Qua Grant (22 points) provided much of the Buffaloes' offense. The pair also combined for 14 rebounds and Murray added five assists.
OC never led, but the Eagles stayed in the game a long time. After falling behind 19-9 early, the Eagles used an 8-0 run to pull even at 27-27 on a driving layup by Johnson with 3:47 left in the first half.
With a chance to take the lead on their next two possessions, the Eagles came up empty and they ended up not scoring for the rest of the half, allowing West Texas A&M to take a 34-27 lead into halftime.
Twice, the Eagles closed within two points early in the second half, the latter time on Elliott's basket that made it 43-41. Murray scored the next seven points, though, and the Eagles came no closer than six points the rest of the way.
The game was hastily scheduled on Friday, after OC's games this weekend at St. Edward's (Texas) were postponed due to hazardous travel conditions and West Texas A&M's home games against Midwestern State (Texas) were postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.
The loss might have ended a remarkable streak for OC, which owns a win over a top-10 opponent in each of the past three seasons but has no more such foes on this season's schedule. OC beat No. 13/10 Dallas Baptist (Texas) last season, No. 2 St. Edward's in 2017-18 and No. 4 Arkansas-Fort Smith during the 2017-18 campaign.
OC's previous season low for scoring was 66 points, in a loss at Angelo State (Texas) on Jan. 3. The Eagles' next scheduled game is at Texas A&M-Commerce on Thursday, with TAMUC scheduled to visit the Eagles' Nest on Saturday.
