PLAINVIEW, Texas – Oklahoma City University hit late free throws to edge Wayland Baptist (Texas) 75-70 on Thursday at the Hutcherson Center.
Kameron Gray sank two free throws with 37 seconds left, while Ronald Taylor added a free throw with 10 seconds remaining for the final margin. OCU, ranked ninth in NAIA Division I men's basketball, improved to 20-7, 15-4 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. No. 19 Wayland Baptist dropped to 16-10, 12-7.
Gray, a senior from Oakland, Calif., led the way for OCU with 20 points, nine assists and three steals. Willie Irick added 18 points and four steals, while Ollie Bailey had 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Danny Storey led Wayland Baptist with 18 points and 19 rebounds. Wayland outrebounded OCU 37-30.
Michal Polanowski's jumper in the paint cut Wayland Baptist's deficit to 72-70 with 47 seconds left. OCU was called for five-second violation on the previous inbounds play. Polanowski also hit two free throws with 1:02 left to draw Wayland to within 72-68.
After Gray's free throws, Kris Hatley missed a layup that Storey rebounded. Then Hatley was called for an offensive foul with 22 seconds left.
OCU led by as much as 15 points. Gray sank a jumper in the lane to put OCU ahead 50-35 with 15:07 remaining, ending an 11-4 OCU run.
Irick stole the ball and threw down a dunk to put OCU up 45-33, then Taylor canned a 3 to precede Gray's jumper.
The Stars take on Lubbock Christian (Texas) at 3 p.m. Saturday in Lubbock, Texas.
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