Men's Basketball 2/20/2014 11:40:00 PM

OCU overtakes USAO 81-64

Stars outscore Drovers 27-10 in last 11:22 of contest

Terry Johnson contributed six points, eight rebounds and three assists Thursday.

Box Score
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University walloped USAO 81-64 on Thursday at Abe Lemons Arena.
R.J. McGhee, a senior from Baton Rouge, La., led the Stars with 22 points while pulling down six rebounds. OCU improved to 15-9, 11-6 in Sooner Athletic Conference men's basketball.
The Stars' Terrence Walker, a senior from Jonesboro, Ark., posted 17 points and five rebounds, and Ivan Matip, a senior from Ojai, Calif., picked up season highs with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Dema Sane, a junior from Mermoz, Senegal, added 12 points and a season-high 11 rebounds while rejecting two shots for OCU. Sane had his first double-double this season and OCU's second of 2013-14.
OCU has won five of its last six games. The Stars overcame an eight-point USAO lead and a six-point second-half margin.
"We had to regroup in the second half to figure out we could get this victory," OCU coach Dionne Phelps said. "They're such an explosive team that can turn the corner at any time and score a bunch of points."
The Stars held USAO to 5-of-20 shooting from 3-point range and 36.2 percent shooting from the floor overall. USAO entered the game averaging 8.04 treys per game.
OCU hit a season-best 34 free throws out of 39 attempts. The Stars connected on 38.6 percent from the field, but hit 14 of their 25 second-half shots.
"I think with us putting a great emphasis on getting the ball inside, I think it gave us that balance giving Walker an opportunity," Phelps said. "Dema, as well as he shoots free throws, he has a great stroke, so we were very fortunate for him to go ahead and get up there and get fouls because we know he can knock it down. It was a good night at the free-throw line. We got to figure out how to score, and if it's from the stripe, it's from the stripe, we'll take it."
Tyler Reynolds nailed a 3-pointer to give USAO its largest second-half cushion with 13:59 left in the game. OCU rallied to tie the game 54-54 on Matip's tip-in at the 11:22 mark.
In the final 11:22, OCU won going away as the Stars outscored the Drovers 27-10.
McGhee pushed the Stars' lead into double figures by downing free throws. McGhee put OCU in front 68-58 with 3:41 to go.
The Stars take on Texas Wesleyan at 5 p.m. Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas.

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