The Eagles basketball team won the crown of victory with an 84-65 performance over Central Christian College during Oklahoma Christian University’s Fairytale Homecoming weekend.
Although the game was only an exhibition game – the season does not officially start until Nov. 13 – Men’s Basketball Head Coach Dan Hays said all his expectations were met.
“I didn’t envision us playing any better than we did,” Hays said. “We’re a different team this year – deeper, more experienced – so it was a good opener.”
Oklahoma Christian gave the homecoming crowd a show in the first half by scoring 43 points to Central Christian’s 18. Hays said the team lost focus in the second half though, allowing the Tigers to score 47 points – including the final 12 points of the game.
The Tigers’ point-streak didn’t stop the Eagles as they continuously rotated through their roster, with top performances from John Moon, Jordan Box and Deric Shelton.
Moon led the team with 20 points and 11 rebounds in his 25 minutes on the court.
Shelton missed all of the 2014-15 season due to injury but redeemed himself over the weekend with 14 points, three assists and three rebounds.
Box recorded 13 points, four assists, three steals and shot 3-3 at the free-throw line.
New influences on the court included senior Chiza Ntirata, who “got his feet wet” after redshirting the previous season, and freshmen Geoffery Hightower and Daniel Eibel scored seven and five points respectively on Saturday.
The real season-opening weekend will begin Friday and Saturday as Texas A&M University Commerce, Cameron University and Newman University join Oklahoma Christian in an on-campus tournament.
Hays said he doesn’t “have any idea how it’s going to be. We’re going to have to play well, I know that.”
The Eagles host Texas A&M University Commerce on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
0
0
Be First to Comment