OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma City Stars men's basketball team took control early and never looked back, snapping its three-game skid with an 83-68 win over Friends University on homecoming.
Oklahoma City (2-3) strung together an 11-0 run in the first five minutes of the game as
Brandon Jackson delivered eight of those points with a pair of three-pointers and a layup that put the Stars ahead 19-6. Jackson continued his mighty presence and hot shooting with his fourth three-pointer of the half giving its largest lead of the night of 18.
Out of the locker room, Friends (1-2) began to inch a bit closer going on a 6-0 as Drew Patterson cashed in from range to make it a 44-38 score early in the second half.
OCU remained in front but the Falcons continued to fight back as Friends got within two points with 9:48 to go in the game. The Stars turned things right back around with a 10-0 run thanks to big man
Jack McWilliams getting the team going with a powerful slam. OCU started to draw fouls and earn its points from the line as McWilliams delivered three free throws along with freshman
Beau Tranter knocking down a pair.
The Stars began to cruise the rest of the way as
Avery Jackson got to the foul line on multiple occasions finishing 7-8 from the stripe in the second half alone. This time the Stars refused to let Friends back in it as Jackson and freshman
Yorgio Golesis closed the door on the Falcons by hitting their free down the stretch and maintaining at least a 10-point lead in the final 3:23 of play.
Oklahoma City earned its second win of the season, snapping a three-game loss and remaining unbeaten against Friends in the two-game history between the two schools.
Brandon Jackson was perfect from deep today going 4-4 from three-point land with all four threes coming in the first half along with 18 points. Jackson finished the game with 24 total points and 11 rebounds notching his first double-double of the season and his third game going above 20 points.
Jack McWillaims showcased a career day as the seven-foot Australian sophomore had a career-high 20 points with six rebounds while going a perfect 10-10 from the foul line.
Avery Jackson was the third and final Star to reach double-figures today as Jackson went for 16 points on 4-10 shooting while going 7-8 from the charity stripe.
OCU took the lead right out of the gate and never looked back as the Stars never trailed in the full forty minutes of play with the game having only one tie which was at 2-2.
Oklahoma City will go and take on Northwestern Oklahoma State in Alva, Oklahoma at 7 PM on Saturday, Nov. 18.
