OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University fell short to Mid-America Christian 80-68 on Thursday night at Abe Lemons Arena. 

The Stars reduced the Mid-America Christian advantage to two points three times in the second half. Oklahoma City went to 6-9, 5-3 in Sooner Athletic Conference men's basketball. 

Kori Guest canned treys each time OCU drew to within two points. Guest nailed a 3-pointer to slice the Stars' deficit to 56-54 with 9:34 remaining.  

Guest punctuated a 10-2 Oklahoma City onslaught with a 3 that cut the Mid-America lead to 46-44 at the 12:24 mark. Rashaun Coleman sparked the Stars' run with a four-point play, connecting on a triple and a free throw. Coleman converted back-to-back 3-pointers for OCU. 

With 11:14 to go, Guest downed a 3-pointer to shrink Mid-America Christian's edge to 51-49. Romario Spence made a putback to make it a 59-56 game with 8:22 showing, and Coleman sank foul shots with 4:43 left to cut the Evangels' lead to 65-62. 

"I was impressed with our fight," OCU coach Mark Berokoff said. "We practiced with five guys this week. I'm just proud of the guys."

Mid-America Christian came up with a late 9-0 surge. Kendall Scott's free throws pushed the visitors' lead back into double digits with 1:13 left. 

Guest, a junior from Tulsa, Okla., delivered 22 points and three steals with season highs in scoring, steals and free throws made (nine). Coleman, a senior from Houston, supplied the Stars with 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two thefts, while Ryan Birt, a senior from Plano, Texas, came through with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists.  

The Stars made their second-half charge behind 52 percent shooting from the field in the period. Mid-America Christian built a 14-point first-half lead. 

OCU makes the short trip to Southwestern Christian for a 3:45 p.m. tipoff Saturday in Bethany, Okla.