Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY – The Newman men's basketball team fell behind early and couldn't recovery, falling, 85-76, at Oklahoma Christian on Saturday (Jan. 18) at the Eagles' Nest. The Jets dropped to 5-11 and 2-5 in the Heartland Conference with the loss.
 
The Jets fell behind by 22 points, 49-27, after the first 20 minutes. OC shot 51.6 percent (16-31) in the first stanza, while NU shot 27.6 percent (8-29). 
 
With the score tied at 7-7 after a Trae Beck layup at 15:48 of the first half, the Eagles scored 12 unanswered points in the next 4:15 to open up a 19-7 advantage. The lead swelled to 20 points, 40-20 with 5 minutes remaining in the first half after an OC 3-pointer. OC led 49-27 at halftime.
 
In the second half, NU closed the gap to eight points there times, but the Eagles responded each time. The Jets outscored the Eagles, 49-36, but the halftime deficit was too large to overcome. In the second half, NU shot 53.1 percent (17-32) from the field and 46.7 percent (7-15) from 3-point range.
 
After the Eagles pushed the advantage to 66-40 with 11:27 left, NU scored 14 straight points in 4 minutes for a 66-54 score. The run started with back-to-back 3s from Ryan McCarthy and Marquis Cuyler. Trae Beck hit the third straight 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 17 points. After three free throws, one from Jeremy Espinoza and two from Perryonte Smith, an Elhad Emerllahu layup made 66-54 at the 7:26 mark and forcing OC to take a timeout.
 
Deric Shelton of OC put the Eagles up by 17 with back-to-back baskets. He hit a 3-pointer at 7:10 for a 69-54 score and then put in a tip-in for a 17 point, 71-54 OC advantage.
 
NU responded with 3s again, making back-to-back triples. Emerllahu hit from the top of the key at 5:17 for a 71-57 score, and Beck connected again for a 71-60 score at 4:51.
 
Shelton came up big again with a 3 at 4:09, and Nick Tate added a basket as the Eagles pulled out to 76-60 with 3:21 remaining.
 
The deficit was eight points with 49 seconds remaining after a Landers Riddle triple made it 80-72. The Jets cut the deficit to eight two more times, but OC made enough free throws in the final 24 seconds to secure the win.
 
Espinoza led NU with a game-high 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for a double-double. He also had a game-high five steals and one block. Emerllahu tallied 13 points, McCarthy scored 11 points and Cuyler totaled 10 points.
 
The Jets return home for two Heartland Conference games. NU takes on Lubbock Christian on Thursday (Jan. 23) at 7:30 p.m. inside Fugate Gymnasium.