Box Score

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK:  The Texas Wesleyan University men's basketball team (10-7, 4-4 SAC) suffered a narrow 74-71 loss at Oklahoma City University (10-6, 6-3 SAC) on Thursday.
 
This was the first conference meeting between the two programs.  Texas Wesleyan leads the all-time series 9-8.  The Stars have taken three of the last four contests since Texas Wesleyan prevailed in the 2006 NAIA Division I National Championship game.
 
The home team had its way early on Thursday.  OCU took a 17-7 lead, but a triple from Dallas Jones later capped a 13-4 run that narrowed the gap to a single point at 24-23.  The Rams got within a point on two other occasions, but OCU went to the locker room up 39-34.
 
In the second half, a layup from Eli Alexander followed by a Deonte Jones jumper gave the Rams their first lead, 52-51, since the score read 3-2.  The game saw three ties before the Stars took control at 66-60.  Deonte Jones hit a three-pointer to get the Rams back in the game, and Alexander later hit one-of-two at the free throw line to bring the score to 68-67 with just under four minutes to play.
 
Rilwan Bakare put in consecutive buckets to tie the game at 71 entering the final minute of regulation.  OCU milked the shot clock and Terry Johnson hit a jumper in the lane with 33 seconds to play.  Texas Wesleyan missed its next attempt and had to foul.  OCU's Sane Dema made just one-of-two free throws to leave the door open at 74-71 with 21 seconds to go.  However, the Rams missed a pair of potential game-tying three's in the final seconds, and the Stars slipped away with a 74-71 win.
 
The Rams dominated the glass 41-30, but OCU outshot Texas Wesleyan 45.5%-39% from the floor.  The Stars also turned 16 TWU turnovers into 27 points, while the Rams scored just 10 points off of 10 OCU turnovers.
 
Dallas Jones led all scorers with 18 points.  Bakare added 11 points and nine rebounds.  Kenny Rhymes, Jorge Redmon, and Deonte Jones each scored nine points for the Rams.
 
Sane led five Stars in double-figure scoring with 17 points.  R.J. McGhee added 15 to the winning effort.
 
The Rams will return to action on Saturday, when they host Southwestern Christian University in Sooner Athletic Conference action.  That game is scheduled for a 5:00 p.m. start in the Sid Richardson Center.