WICHITA, Kan. (Nov. 10, 2017) – Oklahoma Christian struggled with its offense the entire game against Texas A&M-Commerce on Friday and eventually it caught up with the Eagles.

After OC missed a potential game-winner at the buzzer in regulation, TAMUC seized control in overtime and pulled away for a 70-61 win in the opening game of the Heartland-Lone Star Challenge at Newman University's Fugate Gymnasium.

The narrow margin was an improvement for OC (0-1), which lost by 15 and 12 points, respectively, to TAMUC (1-0) in the last two season openers for both basketball teams. But OC coach Cory Cole knew the Eagles – who led by as many as six points in the second half and entered the final minute of regulation with a two-point lead – let a chance for a win against a traditionally strong Lone Star Conference foe slip away.

"We never found our rhythm offensively," Cole said. "We made some plays where we weren't smooth with the ball on the offensive end. That's going to come as we get more minutes and more games together. I thought we battled. We made some tough plays when we had to. We forced the game into overtime and just didn't finish the game at the end."

The Eagles shot 34.4 percent (21 of 61) from the field and committed 20 turnovers, but limited TAMUC to 37.1-percent shooting to stay in the game.

OC led 56-53 after Elijah Strickland – who led the Eagles with 19 points – made two free throws with 1:03 left after TAMUC's Joseph Williams-Powell was called for a technical foul. But TAMUC's Willie Rooks made 1-of-2 free throws at the other end and Strickland missed a 17-foot jumper, giving the ball back to the Lions with 32.9 seconds left.

Trey Conrod scored on a layup with 22.8 seconds left to tie the game for the Lions. OC held for the final shot, but the Lions defended Strickland well, allowing him to shoot only a long, off-balance jumper at the buzzer that missed.

Quick baskets by Dorian Armstrong and Rooks put the Lions ahead in the opening minute of overtime and OC wasn't able to catch up, going 2 of 6 from the field in the extra period, compared to 6 of 6 for TAMUC.

TAMUC jumped to a 12-4 lead as OC hit just two of its first 15 shots, but the Eagles rallied within 29-27 by halftime and held the lead for much of the second half. OC fell behind 53-50 with 2:52 left, but a free throw by Will Lienhard and a 3-pointer by Jordan Box with 1:26 left put the Eagles back ahead. Box scored 15 points for OC.

Leinhard, a 6-foot-7 transfer from Oklahoma State, played well inside, blocking five shots and grabbing nine rebounds to go with four points in his OC debut. When he wasn't in foul trouble, junior-college transfer Roderick Smith also fared well, finishing with 14 points and eight rebounds.

"Rod's going to give you toughness," Cole said. "He's a stat stuffer. He just plays so hard. He'll learn how to give plays up and not foul so he can keep himself in the game. Will has a high IQ defensively. He can really block shots with his hands, being flat-footed, and keep it in play."

Five Lions scored in double figures – Rooks (15 points), Conrod (13), Daquane Willford (13), Reggie Reid (12) and Armstrong (10 points, 13 rebounds).

OC will finish play in the Heartland-Lone Star Challenge on Saturday at 2 p.m., facing another Lone Star foe in Cameron.

Cory Cole discusses the game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xknK0ZZ0jJA&feature=youtu.be