Photo by: Abby Bellow
The Oklahoma Christian University men’s basketball team snapped an eight-game losing streak Thursday with a win over longtime rival Dallas Baptist University, the longest losing streak for the program since 2000-01.
The Eagles swept DBU 77-60 to close out their last regular season home game.
“It felt so good coming out after that game with a win,” freshman Zach Norris said. “That bad streak bummed us out a little bit, but we could not let it get to us; we knew we just had to work hard. The coaches stayed positive and we stayed positive, because we knew if we worked through it we would get that win at some point. We could not let it get to us because we are working towards March at all times, and we have to stay focused and positive for that.”
Senior Kendre Talley led the Eagles Thursday in the numbers. Talley posted 23 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals. With the victory, Talley wrapped up his last regular season home game as an Eagle.
Junior Nick Tate finished with 14 points, followed closely by freshman John Moon scoring 14 points and freshman Jordan VanDeKop tallying 13 points.
Moon and VanDeKop had a combined total of 13 rebounds for the Eagles.
Moon was 7 for 8 and finished the game with three dunks. Moon also had four blocks and eight rebounds.
Junior Nick Tate came out strong in the second half to the basket, scoring 13 of his points after the half. Tate put up seven rebounds for the Eagles as well.
The Eagles finished the first half shooting 60 percent over DBU, and entered the second half with similar intensity, widening their lead over the Patriots.
The Patriots’ only lead was for 19 seconds early in the first half, despite getting close a couple of times afterwards in the first half. DBU capitalized on a 14-3 offensive run, but the Eagles fended them off to hold a 31-26 lead at halftime.
Talley put up six points in an 18-6 offensive run for the Eagles at the beginning of the second half, rising over the Patriots with a 49-33 lead. DBU never came closer than eight points for the remainder of the game.
The Eagles capitalized on the Patriots’ poor shooting numbers. DBU finished the game 8-36 behind the arc with a 22 percent completion.
The losses during the streak proved difficult for the Eagles, as the team could not get both halves to come together offensively and defensively according to Head Coach of Men’s Basketball Dan Hays. Talley, in his four years with the Eagles, has never seen the team struggle this much to earn wins.
“Individually, [Talley’s] has had a very impressive season,” Hays said. “We could not have asked for anything more than what he’s done. He’s never been in this situation where we just have not been as successful in the numbers. I tell them to just get better every day and the guys and the coaches have been working hard, the numbers in the box just are not proving it. Kendre handled it well, but he takes it personally because he truly cares about our team, and that is what made the win last night that much more special, because DBU had been a hot team beating the teams that had previously beat us.”
Oklahoma Christian shot 54.2 percent from the field Thursday – a refreshing change of pace according to Norris.
“We wanted to sell it out for Kendre,” Norris said. “He has worked so hard and it was good for us to see him so happy. We came out strong and did not give up or lose a lead. We came out hot and it felt so good to feel that way again with a win.”
Defensively, the Eagles kept the Patriots down by controlling their drive and taking advantage of early fouls by DBU’s top offensive player, Jonathon Perry. Perry finished the game Thursday with 11 points and two rebounds.
“I felt a sense of urgency during the game because I wanted to get a win,” Talley said. “When we were playing though, everything was intact and flowing. We did not give up a lead and just got it done. Even when we lost to the No. 2 and 3 teams in the league, we found out that we could put two halves of good basketball together. I told [the team] after the game that we always want to feel this good after a game and if we keep working, it is possible to do that.”
The Eagles are finishing up their regular season this weekend with games against Newman University in Wichita, Kan., and Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, Okla.
These games will affect seeding placement at the National Christian College Athletic Association Men’s Region Tournament to be played at Oklahoma Christian. The tournament will consist of teams from across the region to compete for a place at the national tournament for the NCCAA.
“Our goal is to keep working and always build positively as we get ready for March,” Talley said. “We want to win that tournament and go back to nationals.”
The Eagles’ seeding in the regional tournament will be contingent on the games against Newman and OK Panhandle.
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