8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5
Rip Griffin Center in Lubbock, Texas
THE MATCHUP: Oklahoma City University faces Sooner Athletic Conference foe Lubbock Christian (Texas) in a road contest.
ABOUT THE STARS: OCU, the two-time defending NAIA Division I men's basketball champion, fell to Southern Nazarene 73-51 on Saturday in Bethany, Okla. The Stars moved to 13-8, 6-7 in the SAC. Ricardo Lovelace, a 6-foot-4 junior from Philadelphia, led the Stars with 10 points and eight rebounds. Richard Jackson added 10 points for the Stars as well.
Jackson, a 6-foot senior from Bronx, N.Y., averages 13.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. Jamel White contributed seven points and six rebounds Saturday. White, a 6-4 junior from Brooklyn, N.Y., averages 14 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
Marlon Jones, a 6-10 senior from Greenville, N.C., leads OCU with 5.9 rebounds and 0.67 blocks a game.
The Stars were picked as the preseason favorite to win the SAC. OCU has won the last three conference titles.
OCU leads the series against Lubbock Christian 29-6. The Stars defeated Lubbock Christian 77-64 on Jan. 5 at Abe Lemons Arena.
ABOUT THE CHAPARRALS: Lubbock Christian fell to top-ranked Rogers State 81-61 on Saturday at Rip Griffin Center giving LCU their fifth consecutive loss at home. LCU moved to 9-10, 4-9 in the SAC.
Kenny Hewitt led the Chaparrals with 16 points. Hewitt, a 6-7 sophomore, averages 19.4 and 3.6 rebounds per game. Douglas Williams added 10 points to the effort. Williams, a 6-4 freshman, averages 10.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
Lubbock Christian was picked to finish sixth in the conference preseason poll.
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.
John Copeland has a433-392 record in his 29th season as Lubbock Christian coach. Copeland has led the Chaparrals to three national-tournament appearances, guiding Lubbock Christian to the NAIA quarterfinals in 2001.
OCU ATHLETICS 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. Call the SAC Hotline at (405) 878-2110 for league results.
ON THE AIR: Follow the game via live audio on the Lubbock Christian web site. Click here to hear the broadcast. Go here for OCU's Dak Stats page, then click on the W icon to view the live stats.
