Alva Review-Courier -

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Oklahoma Baptist claimed its first win at Henderson State, taking an 81-79 overtime thriller Saturday.

Chandler Rickey scored five points and Vladmir Nemcok four in OBU's overtime frame and the defense stiffened, not allowing a shot on HSU's last possession.

OBU is 2-2 in the Great American Conference for the first time.

OBU trailed by as many as five points in the first half but closed on a 15-6 run and led 37-30 at the half.

The Bison held HSU to 29 percent field goal shooting in the first half.

The Reddies cut the Bison lead to 42-40, but two baskets by Brantly Thompson and one by Vladimir Nemcok got the lead back out to 46-40 with 15 minutes to play.

The Reddies tied the game at 54-54 midway through the second half, but Harrison Stoddart sank a three-pointer for a 57-54 lead.

The Bison defense forced a shot clock violation and Rickey scored off a feed from Zach Norris for a 59-54 edge with 8:50 to play. Rickey added a finger-roll basket with 8:03 to play and OBU took a 61-54 lead into the media timeout.

Caleb Norris buried a three-pointer with 6:54 remaining for a 61-51 lead, OBU's largest of the game.

The Reddies trimmed the lead to one before Britt Hammons sank a three-pointer for a 67-63 Bison lead with 3:15 to play in the half.

HSU took a 71-69 lead with 39 seconds to play in regulation on three free throws.

Rickey got a long rebound and threw in an off-balance three-pointer with 10 seconds left for a 72-71 lead. HSU sank a free throw to tie it with 1.1 seconds left in regulation.

Rickey had 25 points to lead the Bison, followed by Nemcok with 18 and Hammons with 14. Rickey also had nine rebounds and Nemcok dished eight assists.

The Bison return to action Dec. 8 with a trip to Oklahoma Christian.