OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Randall Broddie scored a season-high 20 points including the go-ahead bucket with 51 seconds left in the game as Tarleton edged Oklahoma Christian 63-59.
It’s the first road win of the season for Tarleton, the second straight LSC win and third win in four games for the Texans as they improve to 7-7 overall and 3-5 in conference play.
With the score tied at 57, Isaiah Range came up with one of his game-high three steals that ultimately got Broddie the chance to win the game. As the shot clock was winding down, Broddie hit a turn around mid-range jumper from the left wing to put the Texans up 59-57. The senior guard added a pair of free throws with 16 seconds left for a four-point lead.
The Texan defense locked up the Eagles on their home court in both halves, as OC only shot 39 percent for the game and the Texans forced 17 turnovers. The biggest turnover of the game came in the final seconds with the Texans up by two and freshman Javontae Hopkins drew a charge on a driving Eagle to give the ball back to the Texans. Hopkins made both free throws on the ensuing possession to clinch the game.
To open the game, Tarleton jumped out to an 8-2 lead as Zach Naylor scored the first five points. Naylor finished with nine points and a team-leading eight rebounds. The first-half lead grew to a game-high eight points as Clashon Gaffney threw down a one-handed dunk to go up 19-11. Gaffney was one of two Texans to score in double-figures as the finished with 10 points off the bench.
Tarleton led 28-25 at the break after Oklahoma Christian closed the half on a 9-3 run. OC made an early run to start the second half as the Eagles led by six in the first five minutes of the final frame for their largest lead. The Eagles were able to take control by outrebounding the Texans 38-22. It’s only the Texans’ second win of the season when they get our rebounded.
The lead was short lived for the Eagles as the two squads would changes leads five times in the final 10 minutes before Broddie scored 10 of his 20 points in that span to carry the Texans to victory.
In addition to his defensive-saving charge, Hopkins added eight points off the bench. His freshman teammate Isaiah Range added seven points and a career-high three steals. Josh Hawley (4 points), Dexter Johnson (3) and Isaiah Boling (2) rounded out the scoring efforts for the Texans.
Tarleton will look to sweep the weekend road trip on Saturday when they travel to Arkansas-Fort Smith for a 4 p.m. tipoff at the Stubblefield Center.
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