OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University men's basketball team defeated Southern Nazarene 71-60 on Thursday at Abe Lemons Arena in the Sooner Athletic Conference opener.

Rodney Alexander, a senior from Benton Harbor, Mich., led the Stars with 22 points and posted four rebounds. OCU, ranked third in NAIA Division I men's basketball, improved to 6-1, 1-0 in the SAC. Southern Nazarene went to 6-2, 0-1.

The Stars shot 48.1 percent from the field, hitting 55 percent of their shots in the second half. OCU erased a 26-26 halftime tie by outscoring Southern Nazarene 45-34 in the second half.

Na'Vonta Kentle and DaVell Jackson scored back-to-back layups to put OCU up for good at 35-31 in the second half.

“We had a better second half,” said OCU coach Kevin Morrissey. “We were able to push the ball more.”

The Stars defense was led by Marlon Jones, a senior from Greenville, N.C., who posted eight rebounds and one block. OCU outrebounded SNU 40 to 23 and posted 14 offensive rebounds.

Jackson had 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists for OCU. Kentle added 12 points.

The Stars face USAO at 8 p.m. Saturday in Chickasha, Okla. 

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