OKLAHOMA CITY - The OCU men's basketball team took down the number 15 team in the country after sinking clutch free throws down the stretch in game one of the season and game one in the Abe Lemons Classic.
In a high-level season opener, Oklahoma City (1-0) showed out in front of an electric crowd with over 30 OCU basketball alumni watching as the Stars were able to outlast The Master's University (0-1) 78-75 as Brandon Jackson knocks down some clutch free throws to help start OCU in the right direction in its season-opener.
Brandon Jackson's big night wasted no time getting started as Jackson knocked down a trey from the top of the key to get things going after the tip.
Trailing 21-15 midway through the first half the Stars flipped a switch and went on a 13-0 run as freshman Beau Tranter knocked down two threes to help bring Oklahoma City in front 28-21.
The Masters cut the deficit back down under five points for the time with nine minutes to go in the contest and three from Kaleb Lowery made it a one-point Stars lead.
Coming down to the wire OCU led 70-69 with a two-for-one opportunity as 40 seconds remained in the game. Freshman of the year Avery Jackson took control and knocked the turnaround jumper to what felt like the dagger in the hearts of the Mustangs.
With The Master's having to foul down the stretch the Stars made it clear they were going to let the game fall on the shoulders of their senior Brandon Jackson. Jackson was able to deliver in the clutch as he closed out the game going 6-6 from the charity stripe in the final 20 seconds of play as Oklahoma City solidified a three-point win on opening night.
Brandon Jackson scored 27 points on 7-14 shooting and was dominant on the boards tying Parker Jones for a game-high in rebounds with eight. Jackson delivered from the line all night long as he set a new career-high in free throws made by shooting a perfect 11-11 from the stripe.
Clayton Jewell made a name for himself in his OCU debut as the freshman from Australia put up 13 points on 5-6 shooting and was the second-leading rebounder behind Jackson and Jones with seven.
Avery Jackson played 35 minutes and collected 13 points while finishing off his night with a clutch bucket with 35 seconds to go.
The two squads secured the same number of makes from the field with 27 but the Mustangs held a slight advantage with one less shot. The two sides also shot the same number of threes however OCU got the best of the Mustangs with one more make of seven
OCU made its money from the line while going 17-18 from the line and was a perfect 13-13 in the second half.
OCU gets its revenge over the Mustangs after their first-ever meeting from a year ago as The Masters took an 81-74 victory over the Stars.
Oklahoma City will be right back in action on Friday at 7 PM on day two of the Abe Lemons Classic with a matchup against Florida College inside Abe Lemons Arena.
