The Oklahoma Christian University men’s basketball team dashed a seven-game losing skid with a 104-71 win against Oklahoma Panhandle State University.
Saturday’s game was the first Eagle victory since Jan. 10.
Men’s Basketball Head Coach Dan Hays said he has focused on building the team up as they struggled in the previous weeks. The team has changed defensive plans and practiced more to fight for a favorable game.
“We played great and had five players in the double figures [in scoring],” Hays said. “[This] may be the best performance of the year.”
Those five players who scored in the double digits include John Moon with 32 points, Eric Randall with 29, Elijah Strickland and Jordan Box for 12 and Cameron Peters with 11.
The Eagles led the game 57-37 by halftime after recording 70 percent shooting accuracy, and never let the opponents catch up, concluding the game with nearly 58 percent accuracy and a 33-point lead.
The defensive plan to play man-to-man dominated the Aggies, limiting them to shooting nearly 27 percent for the entire game. Oklahoma Christian showed increased offensive teamwork, collectively providing 22 assists for each other.
Randall led the team’s rebounds, grabbing 15 off the boards with Moon close behind at 12 and Rutherford with nine.
Box contributed six of the team’s 22 assists and recorded the Eagles’ only steal from Oklahoma Panhandle State.
Casey Covalt, one of the Eagles’ three seniors, said the Aggies beat the team the first time they played each other, and so he expected a competitive and intense game.
“We have improved offensively since the first time we played them [so] it should be a good game,” Covalt said before the game. “We just need to make shots from the perimeter. If we make shots outside we can compete with any team in the conference.”
The Eagles have six more games to improve their outside shooting.
Oklahoma Christian will play another week on the road, facing off against Newman University on Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m.
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