Box Score
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — When A.J. Thomas' head finally hit the pillow Saturday night, the senior shouldn't have had any problem going to sleep after the senior left everything he had on the floor for No. 13 Southern Nazarene in a 74-69 win over Oklahoma Christian inside the Eagles Nest.
The only reason Thomas might not fall asleep is that fact that he may still be buzzing about tying his career-high with 27 points or setting a career-high with seven 3-pointers, which was the most treys in a single game by an SNU player since 2006. It was a school-record for most threes in a single-game against a conference opponent.
The Crimson Storm (21-5, 14-4 SAC) as a team buried 13 3-pointers which tied the third-best mark in a single-game in school history and was the most treys hit since 2006 and tied the record for most against a conference opponent.
Thomas hit five of those treys in the second half and three in the first 10 minutes of the half. His final two treys in the second half came in the final eight minutes. After the Crimson Storm had battled back from being down 14 early in the second half, Thomas hit a three in the midst of a 10-3 run to make it 55-51 with 7:54 left. OC pushed it back out to eight, but a Jeremy Lightfoot bucket in the paint, followed by a short jumper from the right side from Thomas, got SNU back within four. Xavier Alexander made it a two-point game with 5:17 left and C.J. Henry cut it to 61-60 with a deep three with 4:34 remaining.
Thomas then capped a 12-2 run with his six three overall to give SNU its first lead since 15-13 in the first half, at 63-61. OC tied it against at 63 and at 65 before Thomas nearly ended it in regulation when he got an open look with eight seconds left that ricocheted back out to him and he let a long 3-point attempt fly that bounced around the rim and came out to force overtime.
SNU never trailed in overtime and it was Thomas again who provided the dagger. With 1:41 left in overtime, the Storm held a 69-68 lead, but Thomas sank his seventh trey of the night to make it 72-68. OC got no closer than three the rest of the way.
Thomas went 8-for-19 on the night and 7-for-14 from outside the arc. Alexander scored 15 points and grabbed eight boards off the bench and added three assists as well. Jon West and Henry were both in double figures as well as West notched 11 and Henry had 10.
OC was uncanny from outside, hitting 5-for-6 from outside in the first half and 3-for-4 in the second, but went 0-for-3 in overtime. SNU didn't miss a free throw in the second half and finished the night 11-for-13 and turned the ball over just 12 times.
The Crimson Storm will now travel to Rogers State, Thursday, for an 8 p.m. SAC contest.
