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.
“I had no idea I had scored that many points,” Wilson, who prepped at Springfield Central, said. “I have awesome teammates and I just came out and played hard.”
Megan Gariss, who scored all of her points in the second half, and Chrissy Lahm tallied 17 and 15 points, respectively, for the Ambassadors. Kala Brust scored 11 points and Gariss also grabbed 12 rebounds and Lahm 11.
“It was a team performance,” OCC coach Darrell Doss said. “The girls stayed together. They did a pretty good job of taking care of the ball.”
Proficient shooting was a factor, too, Doss said, pointing to 51.6 percent overall from the field and 20-of-29 from the line. The team sank 6-of-7 from long range in the second half.
Devona Hutson, a 5-8 senior from Claremore, powered Southwestern Christian (0-4) with 35 points. Her 12-of-24 accuracy included 5-of-9 from 3.
“OCC outhustled us,” Eagle coach Becky Mitchell said. “We also didn’t shoot as well as we usually do from the field.”
Southwestern Christian shot 32.5 percent overall from the floor and 27.3 from 3 (9-of-33).
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Eagles clip OCC men
Southwestern Christian holds off Ozark; Wilson's 34 points key OCC's women
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