BETHANY, Okla. – Oklahoma City University edged Southwestern Christian 80-79 in Sooner Athletic Conference play on Saturday afternoon at Pickens-Springer Gymnasium on the SCU campus.
 
OCU (7-9, 6-3 SAC) played only eight players in the game with four of five starters playing 34-plus minutes.
 
The game was tight in the second half before SCU (7-5, 5-4 SAC) went on a mini run to take 71-65 lead at the 4:12 mark. The Stars responded with its best offense of the evening at that point, going on a 15-4 run to take an 80-75 lead on two free throws by senior guard Ryan Birt with 27 seconds remaining. Birt's free throws were made after he was fouled on a two-on-one breakaway opportunity for the Stars.
 
SCU cut the margin to 80-79 on an in-bounds steal and lay-up by Jordan Williams with 14 seconds left in regulation. The Eagles fouled on OCU's next possession but junior forward Dadrian Hoambrecker missed both free throw attempts for the Stars.
 
SCU grabbed the defensive rebound on the second miss and had one final chance but a right-side 3-pointer by Luiz Machado Jr. deflected off the rim, preserving the hard-fought win for OCU.
 
Birt finished with a team-high 21 points to go along with seven rebounds for the Stars. Senior guard Rashaun Coleman contributed 16 points and senior forward Romario Spence contributed his fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Junior forward Kori Guest also scored in double-figures with a 12-point outing.
 
OCU out-rebounded SCU 41-36, marking the fifth time this season that the Stars have out-rebounded their opponent.
 
OCU returns to action next Thursday with a home game against Texas Wesleyan. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. at Abe Lemons Arena.