FORT WORTH, Texas – Oklahoma City University clinched a first-round bye in the upcoming Sooner Athletic Conference postseason tournament with an 83-77 win over Texas Wesleyan on Thursday night at Sid Richardson Center.
 
After leading by as many as nine points early in the contest, OCU (15-13, 14-7 SAC) held a 40-34 halftime lead. The lead went back and forth in the second half with TWU (19-10, 12-9 SAC) taking its biggest lead of the game at 51-43 at the 14:52 mark and OCU fighting back to post a 64-57 lead after three made free throws by senior guard Rashaun Coleman at the 8:54 mark.
 
The OCU lead stood at 70-69 at the 3:47 mark before the Stars clinched the win with a game-ending 13-8 run. Back-to-back 3-pointers by senior guard Ryan Birt and junior forward Kori Guest pushed OCU to an 80-71 lead at the 1:21 mark.
 
Four starters scored in double-figures with Birt leading the way with 25 points. Coleman finished with 19 points, senior forward Romario Spence with 17 points and a team-high 11 rebounds and Guest with 15 points.
 
OCU shot well in the win, making 29 of 59 field goal attempts (49.2%) and 12 of 25 3-point attempts (48%).
 
The Stars will conclude the regular season on Saturday at Science & Arts. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:45 p.m.