OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma City Men's Basketball team suffered a heartbreaking loss on Saturday after a go-ahead three with 3.4 seconds left from Wayland Baptist overcoming a big 29 point performance from Avery Jackson. 

TOP PERFORMERS
Avery Jackson - 29 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST, 5-11 3PT
Brandon Wilson - 15 PTS, 6 REB, 4 STL
Nick Bonifay - 6 PTS, 3 AST, 2-5 3PT

STAT OF THE GAME: Oklahoma City set a season-high in three pointers made as a team with 11 on the day surpassing its previous high of nine set in the first game of the year against Ottawa (Ariz.) back on Oct. 31. 

FIRST HALF: The two teams remained within three points of each other through the first eight minutes of action as Beau Tranter knocked down a jumper from the left side cutting the deficit to 15-14. The Stars hit a wall offensively struggling from the field allowing Wayland to take off for seven straight points leading to a 19-4 run by the Pioneers to take its largest lead of the night at 34-18 with 5:56 to play. Oklahoma City began to chip its way back holding the Pioneers to just four points for the rest of the half while the Stars sank three consecutive threes with Nick Bonifay cashing in back-to-back attempts to make it 39-31 heading into the break. 

SECOND HALF: Avery Jackson got off to a hot start to open the half cashing in back-to-back triples to close the gap to just two. Wayland Baptist remained in front through the first nine minutes before Brandon Wilson knocked down a three before Jackson put the Stars in front with 10:26 to go. Heading down to the wire once again, neither side grew more than a four point advantage where Quenton Coleman and Avery Jackson took over the game for their teams as Coleman scored eight of 10 points for the Pioneers down the stretch while Jackson cut the deficit to one on a three-point play with just over a minute to go. Down two with under 20 seconds to play, Jackson once more made his way to the rim drawing the foul while making the layup to convert on another three-point play opportunity that gave the Stars a one point lead with 11 seconds left. Coming down the floor the ball was in the hands Coleman who pulled up from over 30 feet to knock down the go ahead basket with three seconds left. Jackson gave it one last halfcourt heave that bounced off the rim as the buzzer sounded giving Wayland a two-point win on Saturday. 

GAME NOTES:

• The loss moves the Stars overall record to 8-4 and go to 4-4 in conference play suffering its third loss over the previous four games. 
• No strange to close games, Saturday was the 12th time in 13 games with a single-digit margin as the final result and the fourth one decided by one possession.
• Avery Jackson put together a strong day for Oklahoma City with a 29 point performance making it the fifth time this season the junior has crossed the 20 point mark. 
•  Brandon Wilson joined Jackson in double-figures with 15 points on three made threes. Wilson ties his season-high in shots made from downtown while tabbing his third consecutive game with at least 15 points. 
• Nick Bonifay came away with a season-best nine points after going 3-for-6 from range. 
• Oklahoma City edged out Wayland 19-17 in bench points while having 20 second chance points to the Pioneers nine. 

NEXT TIME OUT: The Stars will have one more contest in the year 2024 before going on Christmas break in a rivalry matchup on Saturday, Dec. 14 against Mid-America Christian at 4:00 PM.

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