OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City University started conference play off by taking down Texas Wesleyan 81-73 on Thursday night at Abe Lemons Arena. 

OCU's Avery Jackson topped all scorers with 28 points. The Stars improved to 3-3 on the men's basketball season. 

The Stars had three players in double figures as Avery Jackson, Brandon Jackson and Kori Guest all topped over 15 points. Avery Jackson, a freshman from Frisco, Texas added six boards.  

Brandon Jackson, a junior from Westmont, Calif., notched a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds while knocking in four 3-pointers. Guest, the senior from Tulsa, Okla., provided 16 points. Dravon Clayborn led the game in assists with five and provided nine points. 

The Stars only trailed by four in the first half and never trailed in the second half. OCU built a 34-30 lead at halftime and didn't look back leading by 10 with 5:38 left. Brandon Jackson's trey supplied OCU with its largest lead of 56-45 with 10:58 to go. 

The Rams got as close as four with 1:16 to play, but the Stars maintained the lead. It came down to the foul line where the Stars hit 6 of their 8 free throws that occurred in the final minute. 

"It came down to big possessions and who executed at the right time, and our guys did that," OCU men's basketball coach Mark Berokoff said. "I'm really excited about this home win. They just battled every single possession against a very well coached team. 

"This is just the most fun I've had coaching in a long, long time. It's such a fun group of guys." 

The Stars face Science and Arts at 3:45 p.m. Saturday in Chickasha, Okla., in the Drover Fieldhouse.