OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Christian edged Oklahoma City University 74-70 on Saturday at the Eagles Nest in the Backyard Brawl.

The Stars will have the eighth seed in the Sooner Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament. OCU finished the regular season 15-15, 8-14 in the SAC.

OCU meets Lubbock Christian (Texas) at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Rip Griffin Center in the first round of the SAC Tournament.

Jamel White, a junior from Brooklyn, N.Y., poured in a game-high 33 points, knocking down 8 of 15 on 3-pointers for OCU.

Vinicius Telo, a sophomore from Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, added 14 points, connecting on four treys. Richard Jackson tallied 10 points, four assists and three steals.

“Jamel had a phenomenal game,” OCU coach Kevin Morrissey said. “Vinicius played well. That was the hardest we've played in a long time.”

OCU reeled off a 7-0 splurge at the end of the first half to take a 38-32 halftime edge. Alonzo James sank a bucket, then White nailed a 3 and had a putback just before the half.

White buried another 3-pointer with 18:23 left in the game to provide the Stars a 43-36 advantage, OCU's largest of the game.

Jeff Crocker hit a 3, then Jason Taylor hit two free throws to put Oklahoma Christian on top 55-52. Telo answered with a trey off Jackson's feed for a 55-55 tie with 10:26 left.

Taylor sank free throws to give Oklahoma Christian a 67-61 lead with 3:46 to go. The Stars responded with Marlon Jones' putback and Jackson's 3.

Jackson cut OCU's deficit to 71-70 on free throws with 40 seconds left, then Oklahoma Christian answered with Kyle Tefft free throws at 25 seconds left.

Jackson tried a potential game-tying 3-pointer that bounced off the right side of the rim with 12 seconds left. Tefft's free throw with 10 seconds left clinched the game for Oklahoma Christian.

“Rich had a nice open look, but it didn't go in,” Morrissey said. “It came down to a few possessions.”
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