By Anvil Welch

awelch@joplinglobe.com

The Southwestern Christian University men’s basketball team, runner-up in the NCCAA Division II National Tournament in 2006-07, presented strong evidence at Ozark Christian College on Tuesday night that it has the talent to make a run this season.

The Eagles clipped the Ambassadors 76-72 to indicate that OCC, as its coach believes, might be in the mix, too.

“We came back (from a double-digit deficit) and had a chance,” OCC coach Chris Lahm said. “We missed some good shots and we didn’t shoot the ball that well from the free-throw line (8-of-14), either, and I can’t believe we outrebounded them according to our stats (42-30).

“They hit some critical shots and handled the ball very well,” Lahm said.

The OCC women, sparked by Amber Wilson’s 34 points, won the opener 82-76 for their first victory of the campaign.

The Southwestern Christian men (2-3) have three starters from a 29-10 edition.

“Ozark Christian has an outstanding team, too,” Eagle coach Mark Arthur said. “It’s always been tough coming in here.

“We’re probably a little more athletic (than OCC),” Arthur said. “We had some big offensive rebounds and putbacks.

“We won a lot of close games last season and that experience has to help,” Arthur said. “Having No. 11 (quick Nolan Johnson) sure didn’t hurt us.”

Johnson, a 5-foot-10 junior from Midwest City, finished with 20 points and was a force in the second half with his defense and ball-handling skills.

Roman Owen, who had several crucial points late in the contest, added 16 for the Eagles, and Jarail Smith and Josh Gamblin each had 12.

OCC (2-1) was powered by 6-5 senior Travis Roberts’ 33 points and 10 rebounds. Fred Lundien and Brant Smith contributed 12 points apiece.

The 5-6 Wilson, a sophomore in eligibility and a transfer from Central Methodist, sank 9-of-15 overall from the field and 7-of-9 treys. She was 9-of-11 from the foul line.