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The men’s basketball team begins pursuit of a seventh national championship when the Stars meet Concordia (Calif.) in the NAIA Division I men’s basketball tournament 12:30 p.m. March 19 at Municipal Auditorium.
Six-time national champion Oklahoma City has won NAIA crowns in 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2007 and 2008. The Stars (18-8) garnered the eighth at-large berth among the 16 at-large bids.
OCU advanced to the NAIA Tournament for the 21st time. OCU has gone 47-14 all-time in the NAIA Tournament. The Stars finished second in the Sooner Athletic Conference regular-season standings and advanced to the SAC Tournament semifinals.
“It is a great opportunity for our guys to continue their season,” Coach Dionne Phelps said. “Concorida is a great program who won it all three years ago. It will be fun to prepare and go against those guys.”
Senior Gary Inglett took SAC newcomer of the year. Inglett supplies Oklahoma City with 17.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. His 7.6 defensive rebounds a game rank fourth nationally.
Senior Tharone Chilton collected second-team all-conference. He accumulates 17.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.50 steals a game. Chilton’s scoring ranks 28th in the NAIA.
Senior R.J. McGhee pulled in third-team all-SAC honors and all-tournament in the SAC Tournament. McGhee picks up 16.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.25 steals a game while knocking in 38.9 percent from 3-point range. His 84.9 percent free-throw percentage ranks 12th nationally.
The Stars’ 73.7 percent free-throw percentage ranks seventh among the NAIA. OCU stands No. 23 in the last top 25 preceding the national tournament.
Concordia (26-7), ranked No. 9 in the last poll, won the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament to gain its NAIA Tournament bid. Stephen Grosey leads the Eagles with 12.5 points per game.
Reserved tickets cost $15, general admission $12 and student tickets are $5. For ticket information, click here.
The first 28 games of the Championships will be video-streamed live via Stretch Internet, costing $20 for a tournament pass. Click here for details.
The championship and semifinals will be broadcast live on ESPN3. The semifinals take place 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. March 23. The national championship game will be 7 p.m. March 24.
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