BETHANY, Okla. – Cold shooting cost Oklahoma City University in a 68-57 loss to Rogers State in the quarterfinals of the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday evening at the Sawyer Center.

The Stars, ranked 16th in NAIA Division I men's basketball, shot just 39.2 percent from the field. OCU (17-9) missed its first nine shots of the game and went the first 7:41 without a point. The Stars also struggled from the free-throw line, making just 13 of 26 shots.

OCU is expected to receive an automatic bid to next week's NAIA Division I Tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo.

“Very disappointing performance tonight,” OCU coach Kevin Morrissey said. “It was a total lack of effort, very selfish play. We just couldn't come out and make shots. We need to work on being a lot tougher both physically and mentally.”

Chris Brown, a senior from Spencer, Okla., was the only OCU player in double figures with 21 points. Brown made 6 of 13 shots from the field, and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line.

Jeremy McCarty, a junior from Houston, added nine points and seven rebounds, while Kavon Lytch, a junior from Brooklyn, N.Y., had eight points and 11 rebounds.

Rogers State broke the game open in the second half with a 13-3 run. Lance Sullivan hit a free throw with 10:14 remaining to give Rogers a 48-37 advantage.

Rogers took its biggest lead of the game at 61-44 on a jumper from Sylvester Spicer with 5:36 left in the game.

The Stars fell behind 11-0 to start the game. Lytch scored on a layup with 12:19 remaining in the first half to give OCU its first points. The Stars closed the half making nine of their final 15 shots to cut the Rogers State lead to 24-19 at the break.

OCU took its first lead of the game at 34-33 on a 3-pointer from Brown with 13:54 left in the game.
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