OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 3, 2022) – Oklahoma Christian rallied from a nine-point deficit early in the second half, but the Eagles weren't able to replicate that effort down the stretch against Texas-Tyler on Thursday night.

Soloman Thomas scored 25 points and the Patriots – ranked 10th in the South Central Region – took advantage of some untimely errors by OC in the final minutes and ended up pulling away for a 73-65 win in the Eagles' Nest.

Anthony Johnson scored 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, D.J. Walter added 17 (going 8 of 10 from the field) and a career-high seven assists and Moun'Tae Edmundson scored 16 points for the Eagles. OC (7-13, 3-6 Lone Star Conference) shot 49 percent, better than the Patriots' 48.3 percent, but Texas-Tyler outrebounded OC 33-26 and grabbed 14 offensive boards, frequently extending the Patriots' possessions.

OC went scoreless over the final 2:43 of the first half and the Patriots broke a tie with four quick points in the final 23 seconds, with Micah Fuller hitting two free throws and Da'Zhon Wyche coming up with a steal and layup as time expired.

Texas-Tyler (13-6, 5-5) started fast in the second half and led 42-33 after a basket by Thomas with 17:53 left. But the Eagles rallied and tied the game on a 3-pointer by Johnson with 13:33 left, then took a 48-47 lead on a 3-pointer by Edmundson with 12:16 left.

The Patriots were ahead 56-54 with 7:25 left after Johnson hit a floating jumper. But offensive fouls on consecutive OC possessions swung the momentum to Texas-Tyler and the Patriots went on an 8-2 run. They led 64-56 with 5:14 left on a 3-pointer by Fuller and OC came no closer than six points the rest of the way.

Fuller scored 14 points, Wyche had 13 (and eight assists) and Paul Djoko added 10 for Texas-Tyler.

On Saturday, OC is scheduled to host Texas A&M-Commerce, which is ranked sixth in the South Central Region, at 4 p.m.