OKLAHOMA CITY (CCCTigers.com) – The Central Christian College of Kansas Tigers traveled to Oklahoma to take on Langston and Oklahoma City this weekend.
Central Christian Tigers 64, Langston University Lions 73
The Central Christian Tigers put up a strong fight but ultimately fell short against the 18th-ranked Langston University Lions, who used key runs in the second half to secure the win.
Key Performances:
- Chris Whitten: 19 points, 5 rebounds
- Jevarrick Butler: 12 points, 7 rebounds
- Jaeden Whitten: 11 points (off the bench)
- Andre Shelby: 6 points, 4 assists
- Omari Maulana: 11 Points
Game Summary:
- The Tigers started strong, staying within striking distance in the first half, trailing by just 1 point at the break, 35-34.
- The Tigers took a brief 1-point lead early in the second half (38-37) with 17 minutes remaining. However, Langston responded with an 8-1 run over the next 4 minutes to regain the advantage.
- The Tigers refused to back down and made one last push, cutting the deficit to just 2 points (56-58) with 6 minutes left in the game. Unfortunately, the Lions answered with a 10-2 run over the next 4 minutes to seal the game.
- A key factor in the Lions’ victory was their perfect 100% shooting from the free-throw line in the second half, while the Tigers shot 63%. This free-throw efficiency proved to be the difference as Langston pulled away in the final minutes.
- With the loss, the Tigers’ record stands at 12-9. They will next face Oklahoma City University on the road, looking to bounce back in their upcoming matchup.
Central Christian Tigers 77, Oklahoma City University Stars 70
In an a hard-fought battle, the Central Christian Tigers pulled off a 77-70 victory over Oklahoma City University, led by standout performances from Chris Whitten and Jevarrick Butler.
Key Performances:
- Chris Whitten: 29 points
- Jevarrick Butler: 26 points, 6 steals, 7 rebounds
- Andre Shelby: 5 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals
- Travis King: 8 points (off the bench)
Game Summary:
- Oklahoma City led at the break, 40-37, but the Tigers turned things around in the second half with a stifling defense and efficient offense. The Tigers held the Stars to just 21% shooting from the field in the second half, while shooting 50% themselves.
- Central Christian’s defense was key in the victory, forcing 19 turnovers by the Stars. This was a pivotal factor, as the Tigers capitalized on these opportunities to take control of the game.
- Despite the Stars’ Brandon Wilson (19 points, 12 rebounds) and Clayton Jewell (18 points, 17 rebounds) both recording double-doubles, the Tigers were able to stay ahead by dominating in the second half.
- The Tigers moved to 13-9 on the season and evened up their SAC record at 9-9.
- The Tigers will look to build on this momentum as they play Nelson University at home on Thursday night. Tip-off is at 7:45 PM, and the game can be seen on the SAC Sports Network.
