8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31
Sawyer Center in Bethany, Okla.
THE MATCHUP: Oklahoma City University collides with Sooner Athletic Conference rival Southern Nazarene in a road contest.
ABOUT THE STARS: OCU, the two-time defending NAIA Division I men's basketball champion, prevailed over USAO 77-73 in overtime, overcoming a 16-point deficit. The Stars improved to 13-7, 6-6 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Jamel White spearheaded the Stars with 23 points.
White, a 6-foot-4 junior from Brooklyn, N.Y., averages 14.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.40 steals a game.
Ricardo Lovelace, a 6-4 junior from Philadelphia, added 17 points, 15 rebounds and the game-tying 3-pointer at 44 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime. Lovelace records 6.5 points and 5.4 rebounds a game, 16 points and 12 rebounds the past three games.
DaVell Jackson, a 6-1 junior from Las Vegas, chipped in 13 points, nine assists and two steals for the Stars. Jackson averages 9.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.90 steals a contest.
Marlon Jones, a 6-10 senior from Greenville, N.C., posted eight points and 10 rebounds for the Stars. Jones leads OCU with 6.0 rebounds and 0.65 blocks a game. Richard Jackson averages 14.2 points a game.
The Stars were picked as the preseason favorite to win the SAC after winning the last three conference titles. OCU ranks 12th in the NAIA in rebounding margin (7.9 a game) and 14th in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.04 assists per turnover).
OCU has gone 37-17 against Southern Nazarene, winning the last matchup 71-60 on Dec. 4, 2008 at Abe Lemons Arena.
ABOUT THE CRIMSON STORM: Southern Nazarene edged Mid-America Christian 58-55 on Thursday at the Gaulke Activity Center. The Storm held Mid-America without a point in the final 1:55 to improve to 13-7, 6-6 in the Sooner Athletic Conference. Brandon Durham and Daniel White paced the Storm with 13 points each. Vladimir Bulut followed with eight points, while Clement N'Gom added six points and a team-high seven rebounds.
Durham, a 6-1 senior, leads SNU, averaging 13.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.15 steals per game. Deonta Black, a 6-8 junior, adds 10.5 points and team highs of 5.2 rebounds and 1.25 blocks a game.
SNU was picked to finish eighth in the conference according to league coaches in the preseason.
ABOUT THE COACHES: Kevin Morrissey embarks on his first season as OCU head coach. Morrissey spent the past four seasons as St. Gregory's coach. He also has been an assistant at Missouri State and Texas-Pan American. Morrissey played his college ball at Oklahoma Baptist and Oral Roberts and high school at Bishop McGuinness in Oklahoma City.
Adam Bohac (pronounced boe-HAHTCH) became the Southern Nazarene coach on June 17, succeeding Mike Broughton, who coached Bohac at Nebraska. Bohac was an assistant to Broughton from 2004-07 at Southern Nazarene and most recently was assistant at Army.
QUOTABLE: “He did a really good job scoring and penetrating in the first half. When you get into the paint, good things will happen. He played with heart and passion. You need that intensity.” – Morrissey on DaVell Jackson's performance Thursday.
OCU AHTLETICS PODCENTER NOW AVAILABLE: If you want to listen to past game broadcasts and pregame and postgame interviews with Coach Morrissey, go to the OCU athletics prodcenter. Go here, then iTunes will open. Then click on athletics and men's basketball.
GIVE THE HOTLINE A CALL: Fans can follow the Stars via the OCU Athletic Hotline at (405) 208-5400. Get the score and highlights after the game on the hotline. For league results, call the SAC Hotline at (405) 878-2110.
ON THE AIR: Fans can follow the Stars via live audio on the OCU web site. Greg Merick will be the announcer, while Andrew Himes will provide commentary. Click here to listen to the broadcast.
