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Oklahoma City University Athletics

Oklahoma City University
Home Of Champions|73 National Championships
Trae Bryant
92
Oklahoma City OCU 14-13, 6-11 SAC
99
Winner Mid-America Christian (Ok MACU 26-1, 16-1 SAC
Oklahoma City OCU
14-13, 6-11 SAC
92
Final
99
Mid-America Christian (Ok MACU
26-1, 16-1 SAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Oklahoma City OCU 41 51 92
Mid-America Christian (Ok MACU 50 49 99

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2/22/2020 | 3:45 p.m.

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History

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Missed Opportunities costly for Men's Hoops in Loss at No. 2 MACU

Stars Comeback Falls Short Slow Start, Missed Free Throws Prove Too Much to Overcome

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma City University men's basketball team took the second-ranked team in the NAIA to the brink on the road on Thursday night. The Stars overcame a 13-point deficit to take a late lead at Mid-America Christian University, but they were unable to make it stick.

The Stars (14-13, 6-11 SAC) turned around a slow start in the first half, protecting the ball well in the second half and taking advantage of MACU (26-1, 16-1 SAC) turnovers after halftime to take a one point lead with just more than eight minutes to play, but the Evangels were able to quickly reclaim the lead and capitalize on missed free throws from the Stars to take a 99-92 win.

OCU scored the first seven points of the game, and the Stars led the game for the first 6:36 of the game. MACU used a 10-3 run to claim the lead with 13:24 to play in the game, and after OCU briefly grabbed the lead back moments later, MACU surged in front with a 5-0 spurt to grab a 21-17 lead with 10:03 to play in the half. MACU rode a 3-point barrage - the Evangels made 10 of 19 first half treys - and the hot hand of Ashford Golden who had 22 first half points to take a lead of as many as 12 points in the opening half, but a late triple from Trae Bryant helped MACU cut the deficit to nine at the break, 50-41. 

OCU was unable to make much headway into the margin early in the second half, and with 12:51 left in the game, MACU took their largest lead of the game at 67-54, but that's when OCU started to rally. a quick 6-0 spurt closed the gap to 67-60, and with 10:34 to go, Eddie Smith cashed in a three to trim the deficit to 71-66. Moments later, an 8-0 run for the Stars turned a 73-66 deficit into a 74-73 lead, thanks to buckets from Bryant, Smith, and Kealon Claybourne. Smith and Rashaun Coleman added made free throws in the run as well, but both also missed free throws in the stretch, which left the lead at only a single point.

The lead was short-lived as MACU quickly surged in front with a bucket on their next possession, but OCU kept the Evangels within reach over the next several minutes. OCU stayed within a single possession of the lead until a late four point surge from MACU gave the Evangels a 6-point lead with 4:01 left in the game. In the game's final minutes, the Stars closed the gap to four on three occasions, but they never again got it to a one possession game, and MACU held on for the 99-92 win.

Anthony Davis led the Stars with 20 points in the game, and he added 11 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season, and his second against the Evangels. Coleman added 19 points, and Bryant chipped in 13. Coleman also had six assists.

OCU was 33-for-61 (54.1%) shooting in the game, and 10-for-28 (35.6%) from long distance. The Stars, however, left opportunities at the foul line, making only 16 of 28 (57.1%) free throws in the game.

OCU will return to Abe Lemons Arena on Saturday for a crucial game with regard to seeding in the upcoming Sooner Athletic Conference championship. The Stars will play host to the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma (13-14, 7-10 SAC) for Senior Day festivities on Saturday, and a win would greatly improve the Stars' tiebreaker position if needed for seeding in the SAC Championship. The game will be the final home game for Bryant, Davis, Darrion Willies, Eric Wattree, and A.J. Cockrell, and tip-off is slated for 3:45 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Trae Bryant

#3 Trae Bryant

G
6' 1"
Senior
Anthony Davis

#23 Anthony Davis

F
6' 7"
Senior
Eric Wattree

#22 Eric Wattree

G
6' 3"
Senior
Darrion Willies

#21 Darrion Willies

F
6' 6"
Senior
Rashaun Coleman

#2 Rashaun Coleman

G
6' 0"
Junior
Eddie Smith

#13 Eddie Smith

G
6' 2"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Trae Bryant

#3 Trae Bryant

6' 1"
Senior
G
Anthony Davis

#23 Anthony Davis

6' 7"
Senior
F
Eric Wattree

#22 Eric Wattree

6' 3"
Senior
G
Darrion Willies

#21 Darrion Willies

6' 6"
Senior
F
Rashaun Coleman

#2 Rashaun Coleman

6' 0"
Junior
G
Eddie Smith

#13 Eddie Smith

6' 2"
Freshman
G