OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 6, 2021) – For most of the basketball game, Oklahoma Christian remained within striking distance against Midwestern State (Texas) on Saturday afternoon, but the Eagles never could quite completely close the gap.
After trailing by as many as 12 points, OC came within three points three different times in the second half, but the Mustangs parried each rally and held on for an 85-76 win in the Eagles' Nest, giving them a split of their two-game series at OC and ending the Eagles' three-game winning streak.
Midwestern State (8-7, 7-7 Lone Star Conference) had six players score in double figures – as many as a shorthanded OC squad had see action in the game. Luke Hamilton's sizzling start – he made his first six shots, including five 3-pointers in the first half – staked the Mustangs to the early lead that they never relinquished and he finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Shem'mario Stephens proved to be the bellcow for OC (4-9, 4-9), as the junior guard made 10 of 19 shots and scored 22 points to go with nine rebounds despite battling foul trouble. Freshmen
Marco Foster and
Elijah Elliott each scored 16 points, with Elliott adding six assists.
Midwestern State led 45-39 at halftime. A driving layup by Foster pulled OC within 57-54 with 12:01 left, and a 15-foot jumper by Stephens made it 59-56 with 10:15 left. But Jalin Brown scored six straight points for the Mustangs to rebuild their lead.
The Eagles remained resolute and didn't go away. Elliott's steal and layup with 2:45 left pulled them within 75-72, but again, the Mustangs had an answer, as Derrick Ogechi hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 2:03 left, forcing OC to play the foul game. Midwestern State hit 7 of 9 from the free-throw line in the final 69 seconds to end the Eagles' hopes.
Terrell Wilson added 17 points for Midwestern State, while Trae Jones had 13 and three others – including Ogechi and Brown – had 10 each.
For OC, sophomore center
Hunter Staten just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.
OC's next games are scheduled to be Friday and Saturday in Austin, Texas, at St. Edward's. The Eagles' next home game won't be until Feb. 20 against Texas A&M-Commerce.
