WEATHERFORD, Okla. - Oklahoma Christian shot 42.3 percent in the first half while Southwestern Oklahoma State 29.6 percent during that time. However, OC's field-goal percentage dropped to 34.8 percent over the final 20 minutes while the Bulldogs' rose to 52.0 percent as the Eagles fell to SWOSU Wednesday night, 76-67.
Javon Grant and
Marco Foster led OC on the evening with 14 points a piece, while Foster hit four of Oklahoma Christian's five triples. Foster echoed the roller coaster that was the in-state matchup, however, as nine of his 14 points came in the first eight and a half minutes of the game. Foster did not score again until the 3:11 mark of the second half.
Keyondre Young scored nine of his 12 points at the free-throw line while
Bryce Kennedy filled out the Eagles' double-digit scorers with 11.
Nickolas Traylor led the defensive effort, recording an OC career-high five steals.
The Bulldogs' home opener began with a 7-0 run before Oklahoma Christian scored its first field-goal three minutes into game action. Foster scored all nine of his first-half points over the next five minutes as the Eagles opened a 15-11 lead at the under-12 media timeout.
That lead remained around five until a last-second layup from Southwestern cut OC's lead to two at the break, 31-29. Five lead changes within the first five minutes of the second 20-minute stint highlighted the return to play before SWOSU hit a triple at the 12:35 mark to claim its largest lead since 7-0 in the early going, 53-46.
Oklahoma Christian went the next six minutes of game time without a field-goal as the Bulldogs' lead ballooned to 15 with seven minutes left to play. Foster broke his scoring hiatus with his fourth three-pointer of the night with 3:11 on the clock as OC was able to cut the deficit down to six, but Southwestern converted on its final four free-throws to hold off any kind of comeback.
The Eagles (1-1, 0-0 LSC) will return to the Payne Athletic Center for its next two games, beginning Saturday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. against Randall University.
