Oklahoma Baptist ended on the up-side of a see-saw contest with Central Christian Monday, claiming the 73-70 win in overtime.
"This game was a GAC-level game," said OBU Coach Quinn Wooldridge. "It was very intense. Now we need to build off the energy from the first semester."
The Bison had a one-point lead at halftime and it seemed like neither team would gain the upper hand. OBU appeared to just that when the Bison turned a one-point deficit into a 17-point lead with a 22-4 run. Chandler Rickey had 10 points in that run, knocking down three three-pointers, including a four-point play. Vladimir Nemcok also came in handy on the run, scoring four points and picking up five assists in just over six minutes.
But that lead disappeared like snow under a heat lamp as the Tigers pumped in five three-pointers in a 21-1 run to take a 64-61 lead with 1:44 to play.
Kendric Warren couldn't get the free throw to complete a three-point play with 52 seconds left and Tyler Lester drained a three-pointer to tie the game for OBU with 39 seconds remaining.
"Lester plays well late in games," said Wooldridge. "He's a clutch guy He got the open look and made them pay."
CCC turned the ball over and OBU missed its final shot of regulation and the game went to overtime.
The Tigers took a 70-68 lead with 3:12 remaining, but went 0-for-4 the rest of the game while OBU got a Nemcok layup to tie the game with 2:13 left in the extra period. Rickey added two free throws and Jansen Hight knocked in one more for the final margin.
Rickey, who was one-point shy of a triple-double on Saturday, was one rebound short of a 20-20 game Monday. He ended with 24 points and 19 rebounds. Timotis Kuckailis added 16 points and Nemcok ended up with 15 points and eight assists to go with four steals.
Alonzo Stafford led the Tigers with 29 points and 16 rebounds.
OBU moved to 5-3 on the season and returns to action at home Jan. 7 against Great American Conference opponent Southern Arkansas in a 7:30 p.m. start.
Central Christian dropped to 9-3 with the loss.
