OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Stars men's basketball team returns to Abe Lemons Arena on Thursday for the first time in 2024 as the Stars go up against conference rival Mid-America Christian at 7:45 PM.  

Game Information    

• Oklahoma City Stars (3-10, 1-6 SAC)   
  • Previous Game: at UNT-Dallas (L, 72-85 OT)   
• Mid-America Christian (8-5, 4-3 SAC)   
  • Previous Game: at Southwestern Christian (W, 99-64)  
• Date & Time: Thursday, Jan. 11 | 7:45 PM   
• Location: Abe Lemons Arena 
• Live Coverage: TV | Radio | Live Stats 

Key Players   

• Oklahoma City    
  • So – Avery Jackson – 16.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 83.1 FT% 
  • Sr – Brandon Jackson – 16.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 85.7 FT% 
  • Fr – Yorgio Golesis – 10.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 47.0 FG%, 41.2 3PT% 
• Mid-America Christian 
  • Sr – Eddie Smith – 11.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.5 APG, 44.9 FG%, 41.7 3PT% 
  • Jr – Manyang Magok – 10.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 50.6 FG% 
  • Sr – Seth Hurd – 9.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 50.5 FG% 

About the Stars   

• Oklahoma City will be on a mission to snap a three-game losing streak as the Stars find themselves 3-10 overall and just 1-6 in conference play. 
• OCU is led by sophomore Avery Jackson who comes in as last year's SAC freshman of the year giving the Stars 16.5 PPG while tying a career-high of 32 points in the previous home game against Bethel College.  
• The lone senior of OCU Brandon Jackson follows in right behind Avery Jackson with 16.3 PPG while also being the team's leading rebounder with 6.5 RPG. Jackson comes off a stellar performance on Saturday at UNT-Dallas scoring a season-high 28 points while cashing in on five three-pointers.  
• Freshman sensation Yorgio Golesis has shined brightly for the Stars in his rookie campaign as Golesis has given OCU 10.5 PPG and sent Saturday's game into overtime with a last-second three-pointer.  
• Clayton Jewell joins Golesis as another freshman to help impact the Stars as the Australian native has scored in double-figures in back-to-back games while notching the first double-double of his career again at SAGU on Jan. 4.  
• Oklahoma City is still trying to find its stroke shooting the basketball as the Stars rank last in the Sooner Athletic Conference in field goal percentage and three-point percentage. 
• Despite its shooting woes, Oklahoma City does have success from the free throw line with a 74.0 FT%, second-best in the conference.  
• Brandon Jackson has been a pillar for the OCU's success from the foul line as Jackson comes in as the SAC's top free throw shooter with Avery Jackson ranking third among all SAC players.  

About the Evangels 

• Mid-America Christian comes off a big blowout win over Southwestern Christian on Monday night 99-64 to bring the Evangels record to 8-5 overall with a 4-3 record in conference play.  
• MACU secured its biggest win of the season back on Nov. 10 in its conference opener against Wayland Baptist where the Evangels took down the number 10 team in the country on the road 62-61. 
• The Evangels come in with four players averaging nine points and above with senior guard Eddie Smith leading the way with 11.8 PPG. Smith has put together three games scoring 18 points while making just one start so far this season.  
• Magok Manyang, a transfer from New Mexico Junior College enters as MACU's only other player to average double-figures. A 10.0 PPG performer, Manyang sees 6.2 RPG and saw his best game come against Evangel as the junior notched a double-double with a season-high 16 points and 10 rebounds.  
• Senior's Seth Hurd and Jasiah Lewis have given MACU a strong impact in 2023-24 as Hurd brings in 9.9 PPG on 50.5% from the field while Lewis nailed the game-winner to take down Wayland Baptist as the graduate senior provides 9.2 PPG as a starter in all 13 games this season.  
• Despite being in the lower half of the conference in scoring, the Evangels rank second in points allowed, giving up just 66.9 PPG.  
• Mid-America Christian has been a tough team inside as MACU comes in as the second-best rebounding team in the conference as well as leading the SAC in offensive rebounds with 13.5 per game.   

Series History    

• The all-time series shades in favor of Oklahoma City as the Stars hold an edge by just a hair with an 18-17 record against MACU.  
• Oklahoma City took both games from a season ago, earning a blowout win at home 92-68 as Brandon Jackson and Avery Jackson combined for 47 points while the Stars had all five starters in double figures.  
• In the final game of the regular season last year OCU trimmed out a 79-72 victory in the Gaulke Activity Center as once again the Stars saw five guys in double-figure scoring with Parker Jones giving Oklahoma City 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench.  

What's Next   

• Oklahoma City will hit the road on Saturday as the Stars travel across town to Bethany with a matchup against Southwestern Christian on Jan. 13 at 3:45 PM.