EDMOND, Okla. - In the lowest scoring game of the season with only one made three-pointer between the two teams, Oklahoma Christian prevailed Saturday against Angelo State, 56-50. Saturday's victory marked OC's first win without a made three-pointer in the NCAA Division II era.
Miles Gibson was exceptional on both ends of the court, recording game-highs 17 points and 13 rebounds, including 10 on the defensive end. The junior guard added three steals and two blocks to highlight the game's defensive theme.
In the low-scoring affair, Oklahoma Christian claimed a large advantage in the free-throw department, hitting 20 of 21 from the charity stripe for a season-high 95.2 percent. Gibson (5-5),
Jason Clark (6-6) and
Carson Jones (4-4) combined to go 15-for-15 while
Elijah Bailey went 5-for-6, tallying 11 points and two steals off the bench for the Eagles.
Play saw six ties in the first 10 minutes of action with scoring at a premium as the two sides were at a deadlock, 13-13, nine minutes into first-half action. The lid began to come off the basket for the Rams late in the first half, claiming its biggest lead of the night up to that point with the teams heading into the locker room, 28-19.
Angelo extended that lead to double-digits on three different occasions early in the second before the Eagles picked up the energy halfway through the second period. With its efficiency at the free-throw line, plus all 12 of Jones' points coming in the second half, Oklahoma Christian reclaimed its first lead since the 13:22 mark of the first half with 9:48 on the clock.
The Eagles never lost the lead again, despite the maroon-and-gray's lead never getting over four until the final few seconds, as continued near-perfect free-throw shooting kept the Rams at bay inside the Payne Athletic Center.
Oklahoma Christian (8-6, 3-5 LSC) will undergo its longest road trip of the season this weekend, facing Sul Ross State in Alpine, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 15 at 7:30 p.m. before crossing state lines to battle Western New Mexico Saturday, Jan. 17 at 3 p.m. MT / 4 p.m. CT.
