OC basketball hits triple digits for second consecutive day

For the second night in a row, an Oklahoma Christian University basketball team broke past 100 points at home.

The Eagles soared above Dallas Christian University with a 104-82 victory on Tuesday night. The source of this success was evident on the court and in the stands – teamwork.

Men’s Basketball Head Coach Dan Hays said the team has been integrating new teamwork strategies since an injury affected the team’s lineup and the extra work is now playing out on the court.

“When Jordan Box got hurt we had to change a bunch of things and we’re just getting comfortable with it,” Hays said.

Oklahoma Christian’s 27 assists – compared to DCU’s nine – combined with eight steals and 51 rebounds showed the team’s offensive and defensive abilities.

John Moon stood out after the first half, loading the scoreboard with 21 of the Eagles’ 54 points at halftime. He went on to add another 16 points with 13 rebounds and two steals.

“John Moon’s playing great and he can play better,” Hays said. “We got to get him the ball but the guys around him have to make shots – that’s what we’re working for.”

Jordan Rutherford contributed 13 points and five rebounds for the Eagles and propelled the team with eight assists.

Chiza Ntirata showed off his dunking skills in the second half while recording 12 points and six rebounds in his 21 minutes of playing time. Deric Shelton also gave the Eagles 12 points and shot 3-3 from the charity stripe.

Oklahoma Christian ended the first half shooting 53.8 percent in the paint and 80 percent from the free-throw line, dropping only slightly in the second half to 50 percent and 75 percent, respectfully.

“We got a little sloppy and couldn’t put them away but I liked our energy in the second half – good effort,” Hays said.

The 54-37 cushion at halftime allowed the Eagles to relax offensively, though they did lead the game by a 14- to 20-point margin for the majority of the final minutes.

The Eagles travel to Midwestern State University, ranked 22nd in the NCAA Division II, on Thursday at 7 p.m.