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Oklahoma City University Athletics

Oklahoma City University
Home Of Champions|73 National Championships
Eddie Smith
90
Oklahoma City University OCU 10-8, 3-6
96
Winner Science & Arts (Okla.) USAO 8-10, 3-6
Oklahoma City University OCU
10-8, 3-6
90
Final
96
Science & Arts (Okla.) USAO
8-10, 3-6
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Oklahoma City University OCU 38 45 7 90
Science & Arts (Okla.) USAO 46 37 13 96

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Second Half Rally Not Enough as Men's Hoops Falls in OT at USAO

Smith Equals Career High, Stars Unable to Complete Road Comeback

CHICKASHA, Okla. - The Oklahoma City University men's basketball team was once again close to finding an important road victory on Thursday night at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. The Stars rallied from a second half deficit for the second straight game to force overtime on the road, but as in the first instance, the extra session proved too much for OCU.

OCU (10-8, 3-6 SAC) overcame a 15-point second half deficit, thanks in part to a huge effort from freshman guard Eddie Smith, and the Stars led the game in both the final moments of regulation and in overtime, but USAO (8-10, 3-6 SAC) used an 11-3 run in overtime to pull out the win at home, 96-90.

OCU started the game on an absolute tear. The Stars made their first five shots of the game, including 3-pointers from Trae Bryant twice, Darrion Willies, and Anthony Davis to race out to a 14-2 lead in the first 2:05 of the game. The Drovers responded with a timeout, and the ploy worked as USAO began to whittle away at the margin.

Back-to-back triples from USAO cut the lead to 14-8 in less than a minute, and by the 14:25 mark, USAO had cut the OCU lead to a single possession at 16-13. While OCU continued to lead for much of the middle of the first half, USAO kept the game close, and with 7:31 to go, the Drovers pulled to within one point at 26-25. Just 56 seconds later, the Drovers took their first lead of the contest, and the game took on a back and forth feel. With 2:15 left on the clock, Kealon Claybourne buried a long range shot to give OCU the lead at 36-35, but USAO finished the half on a 12-2 run that included a buzzer-beating leaner at the halftime buzzer to take a 46-38 lead into the locker room.

OCU scored first in the second half, but USAO answered with an 8-0 run to quickly take a 14-point lead, 54-40, with 17:09 left in the game. Just less than two minutes later, the Drovers pushed their lead to 15 points - the largest margin of the night for either team - and they continued to hold a double digit lead until Smith knocked down a 3-pointer with 11:22 to play that pulled OCU within seven at 60-53. The momentum was short-lived, however, as a quick 8-0 run restored USAO's 15-point margin at 68-53 with 10:16 to play in the game. 

That is when OCU mounted their comeback in earnest. The Stars scored seven unanswered points, with Eric Wattree connecting from deep during the run, and when Smith launched another long distance shot with 5:26 to go, the Stars cut the margin to seven at 74-67, and the deficit never again reached double digits. That particular 3-pointer from Smith came as a part of a 15-0 OCU run that spanned four minutes of game time and saw OCU claim the lead at 77-74. 

The final two minutes of regulation was a roller coaster for both teams. Cameron Hines hit a 3-pointer for USAO to tie the score at 77, Smith answered with his own 3-pointer to give OCU the 80-77 lead, and USAO hit two big triples in the final 1:39 to take an 83-80 lead with 59 seconds to play. With 11 seconds to play, OCU spent a timeout, and out of the timeout, the Stars put the ball in the hands of Wattree, who delivered a game-tying three from the corner with less than 10 seconds to go. USAO got a look at a 3-pointer for the win, but it came up short, and the game headed off to overtime tied at 83.

Rashaun Coleman was fouled on the Stars' first possession of overtime, and he made one of two free throws to give OCU the 84-83 lead, and Willies added a second free throw make just 20 seconds later as OCU took the 85-83 lead with 4:25 to play. Unfortunately for OCU, that was the high point of the extra frame. OCU missed their first four shots of overtime, but on the defensive end, they were able to keep USAO in check well enough that Smith tied the game at 88 with a 3-pointer at the 1:31 mark. USAO scored eight of the final 10 points in the last 91 seconds of the game, though, as OCU was forced to put the Drovers on the foul line, and OCU took another tough loss 96-90.

Smith had arguably his best game as a Star in the contest. He tied his season high with 17 points - a feat which he had first accomplished at Randall on November 12 - and he added five rebounds, three assists and a steal.

OCU had six players finish the game in double figures as well. In addition to Smith's 17, Coleman added 14, Wattree and A.J. Cockrell each chipped in a dozen, and Willies and Davis posted 10 apiece. Willies led the Stars with seven rebounds, and Wattree had three steals.

The Stars made 32 of 73 (43.8%) shots in the game, including 13 of 33 (39.4%) from long range. At the foul line, OCU was 12-for-20 (60%), and the stars got out-rebounded in the game, 48-31.

OCU will be back at Abe Lemons Arena on Saturday for another tough test as they welcome the NAIA No. 2 Mid-America Christian University Evangels (18-0, 9-0 SAC) in for a crosstown showdown. The Stars and Evangels will tip-off after the women's portion of the double-header, with the men's tip tentatively set for 3:45 p.m.
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