SHAWNEE, Okla. – Oklahoma Baptist fended off Oklahoma City University 88-75 on Thursday in the Noble Complex.

The Stars (2-2, 0-1 Sooner Athletic Conference) staged a second-half rally that brought OCU to within two points at 4:11 left in the game. Oklahoma Baptist, ranked fourth in NAIA Division I men's basketball, outscored OCU 15-4 down the stretch to move to 7-0, 1-0 in the SAC.

Jerome Phillips, a senior from Chickasha, Okla., led OCU with 16 points, while Chris Brown, a senior from Spencer, Okla., chipped in 13 points and five assists.
Corey Bingham added 11 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while Alonzo James had 11 points and four blocks.

In the second period, OCU made its move down 51-41 with 14:12 left in the game. The Stars put together an 13-2 run to nab the edge.

James scored to cut OCU's deficit to 51-43, then Phillips nailed a 3-pointer. Brown added a bucket, then Phillips knocked in another 3.

Al Graham buried a trey off Bingham's skip pass to give OCU the lead 54-53 with 10:37 remaining.

“I was pleased we came back from a 14-point deficit,” OCU coach Kevin Morrissey said. “When we needed defensive stops, we couldn't stop them in transition or in the half court. Then we couldn't get the ball to the right guy in the right position down the stretch.”

Phillips sank another 3 to put OCU ahead 59-58, then James added a lay-in to make the Stars' advantage 61-58 with 8:33 left.

Tim Bowman dropped in consecutive 3-pointers to give Oklahoma Baptist the lead for good.

Bingham cut Oklahoma Baptist's lead to 71-69 on a 3-point play with 4:48 left, then sliced OCU's deficit to 73-71 on a pair of free throws with 4:11 to go.

OCU continues Sooner Athletic Conference play against St. Gregory's at 5 p.m. Saturday at Abe Lemons Arena.
Boxscore