Men's Basketball 11/29/2013 11:14:00 PM

Stars clip Oklahoma Christian 78-68

OCU shoots 52 percent from 3-point range, improves to 3-2

Terry Johnson scored a game-high 22 points against Oklahoma Christian.

Box Score
EDMOND, Okla. – Oklahoma City University topped Backyard Brawl rival Oklahoma Christian 78-68 Friday in the Central Oklahoma Classic at Hamilton Field House.
The Stars got a combined 43 points from seniors Terry Johnson and Kaleb Smith while shooting 50 percent from the field and 52 percent from behind the 3-point line as a team to clip the Eagles and improve to 3-2 on the young season.
Johnson scored back-to-back baskets in the paint to kick start the OCU offense early in the first half and ignite an 8-2 Stars' run. Dorion Gigger scored in transition to cap the run and give OCU an 8-4 lead with 14 minutes and 31 seconds left in the first period.
Oklahoma Christian regained a four-point advantage at the 11:45 mark, but a pair of 3-point buckets from Smith tied the game at 17-17.
Smith and Jamaal Crayton buried back-to-back 3-pointers to end the first half and give the Stars a 36-33 lead at halftime.
The first half featured nine lead changes with both squads shooting above 45 percent from the field. The Stars shot a scorching 55 percent from 3-point distance in the first frame while holding the Eagles to just 27 percent from 3-point range.
Oklahoma Christian regained the lead in the second half on the strength of five straight points from Jordan VanDeKop.
The Eagles maintained the lead until Johnson converted a four-point play at the 11:30 mark of the second half. Smith followed with a 3-pointer and ignited a 12-0 Stars' run. Smith capped the run with another 3-point jumper to stake OCU to a 58-48 advantage with 10:22 left in the game.
Ivan Matip buried a 3-pointer at the 7:24 mark, and Johnson converted an old-fashioned 3-point play at the 3:44 mark to help OCU maintain a 10-point advantage.
Chris Campbell and Crayton hit key free throws with less than a minute remaining to salt the game away at the free-throw line and give OCU the 78-68 victory.
OCU scored 32 points in the paint and outscored Oklahoma Christian 31-17 in bench scoring on the night.
Johnson led OCU with a game-high 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists, Smith added 21 points on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point land and Crayton chipped in 14 points and eight boards on the night.
OCU will return to action in the Central Oklahoma Classic at 4 p.m. Saturday against Central Oklahoma at Hamilton Field House in Edmond, Okla.

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