OCU in Randall Classic men's basketball preview

Stars play across town at Randall this weekend

8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9
at Randall
1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10
vs. Trinity Bible (N.D.)
The Activities Center in Moore, Okla.

THE MATCHUP: Oklahoma City University takes on two schools from the National Christian College Athletics Association in the Randall Classic in Moore, Okla.

ABOUT THE STARS: The Stars dropped Wayland Baptist (Texas) 107-99 on Saturday at Abe Lemons Arena. OCU (8-0) had five players in double figures and held a 58-30 advantage in points in the paint.
Terence Bonhomme and Xavier Smith both scored 27 points for Oklahoma City. Bonhomme, a 6-foot junior from St. Martinville, La., also provided four rebounds and two steals. Bonhomme leads OCU with 18.4 points per game.
Smith, a 6-9 senior from Richardson, Texas, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked two shots for his fifth double-double of the season. Smith averages 16.4 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.25 blocks per game. He ranks sixth in the NAIA in both blocks and defensive rebounds per contest. Lou Dunbar picked up 14 points and six rebounds while shooting 3-for-6 from 3-point range. Dunbar, a 6-3 junior from Seabrook, Texas, supplies OCU with 17.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.75 3-pointers and 1.38 steals per contest this season. He has hit 50.9 percent of his 3-point shots this season.
OCU is second the NAIA in both blocks per game (5.88) and field-goal percentage (54.4). See how the Stars rank among the NAIA's statistical leaders, click here.
The Stars held the fifth spot in the latest national poll. It is the first time OCU has appeared in the top five since 2008. The Stars have been picked to take second in the SAC according to the preseason coaches' poll. Oklahoma City owns six NAIA national championships won in 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2007 and 2008.
OCU holds a 2-0 edge in the all-time series against Randall. The Stars topped the Saints 94-68 earlier this season Nov. 10 in Oklahoma City. Walter Rickett paced OCU with a season-high 19 points.
The Stars will have their first encounter with Trinity Bible (N.D.) in men's basketball.

ABOUT THE SAINTS: Randall won a 103-78 matchup with Ozark Christian (Mo.) on Friday, Dec. 2 in Moore, Okla. The Saints stand 3-5 entering a game 8 p.m. Thursday against Trinity Bible.
Trey Sneed, a 6-4 junior, averages 17.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.30 steals per contest. Sneed is shooting 51.5 percent from the floor this season. Xavier Hunter, a 5-10 junior, is second on the team with 11.6 points per contest.

ABOUT THE LIONS: Trinity Bible dropped a 101-83 contest to Presentation (S.D.) Tuesday in Aberdeen, S.D. The Lions are 1-7 on the year.
Aaron Stemen, a 6-5 guard, leads Trinity Bible with 18.0 points, 8.9 rebounds and 0.50 blocked shots per game. Josh Bauska, a 6-2 forward, averages 14.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.38 steals.
Trinity Bible is a part of the NCCAA and the Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and went 12-21 last season.

ABOUT THE COACHES: Vinay Patel is in his second season as OCU head coach. In his first year, Oklahoma City finished 15-11 and tied for second in the Sooner Athletic conference. Before coming to OCU, he spent one season as Rogers State's assistant coach and aided the Hillcats to a 20-8 season led by conference player of the year Frederico Santos. Patel spent nine years as assistant at West Texas A&M. During that time, West Texas went to the NCAA Division II Tournament five times, won the Lone Star Conference championship and took two Lone Star South Division titles. He elevated to the interim head-coaching position before he ended his time at West Texas A&M.
Mark Berokoff is in his fifth year as the head men's basketball coach at Randall. Berokoff led Randall to a 22-11 record and the NCCAA Division II title last season.
Jordan Norwell is in his 11th season as head men's basketball coach at Trinity Bible.

QUOTABLE: "For us to be successful as a team, one of our strengths need to be rebounding. I think we have the ability to be one of the best rebounding teams in the league this year. When you look at our basketball team, we have guys that have the ability to rebound, and it's something we're going to have to continue to do if we're going to have success this year." – Patel on his team's rebounding abilities

FOLLOW THE STARS: Fans can keep up on the latest from OCU athletics through several ways.
Check out OCU athletics on several social media platforms by looking up the handle @ocustars. The Stars are on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
Fans can sign up to receive the latest OCU athletic headlines via e-mail by going here.
Be sure to catch the OCU Athletics Update video program weekly on ocusports.com, the OCU YouTube Channel or on OCU Athletics' Facebook page. Click here to see the latest edition or see our video channel in the upper right-hand corner of our home page.

ON THE AIR: OCU athletics has partnered with Stretch Internet to provide live and on-demand audio, stats and video of the Stars' games. Follow along with live stats here.
Randall will provide live video from the classic that will be available by clicking here.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Terence Bonhomme: G; 6' 0"; Junior

#22 Lou Dunbar: G; 6' 3"; Junior

#1 Walter Rickett: G; 6' 2"; Junior

#11 Xavier Smith: C; 6' 9"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#5 Terence Bonhomme
: 6' 0"; Junior
: G

#22 Lou Dunbar
: 6' 3"; Junior
: G

#1 Walter Rickett
: 6' 2"; Junior
: G

#11 Xavier Smith
: 6' 9"; Senior
: C