OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University picked up a 60-53 victory over Lubbock Christian (Texas) in men's basketball Saturday evening inside Abe Lemons Arena.

Chris Brown, a senior from Oklahoma City, scored a game-high 23 points, and Jerome Phillips, a senior from Chickasha, Okla., added 12 points and four rebounds to lead the Star attack. OCU improved to 4-3, 2-2 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.

The Stars shot 44 percent in the second half and limited LCU to 30 percent shooting. OCU outscored Lubbock 34-14 in the paint for the game, including 12-5 in second-chance points. OCU played for the first time since Dec. 12.

“It was a good performance by our guys,” OCU coach Kevin Morrissey said. “I told our guys to contest all their shots and block out, and they did that tonight.”

Phillips scored all 12 of his points in the second half as OCU pulled away in the closing minutes.

With the Stars leading 47-46, Phillips hit a 3-pointer with 3:38 left to spark an 11-0 run. Phillips scored seven points and added an assist during that stretch.

“He hit huge shots for us,” Morrissey said of Phillips. “That's what senior leadership is all about, and Jerome gave us that tonight.”

Brown scored 17 points in the first half as OCU built a 34-25 lead at the break. OCU went on a 10-2 run to end the first half, led by six points from Brown.

Kavon Lytch, a junior from Brooklyn, N.Y., scored nine points and added 10 rebounds in 21 minutes in his first game for the Stars this season.

The Stars will host Wayland Baptist (Texas) at 5 p.m. at Abe Lemons Arena.
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