OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – In its Sooner Athletic Conference opening game, the Oklahoma Panhandle State University men's basketball team had a rough time on the road, losing a 73-41 decision at Oklahoma City University. The Aggies fell to 3-3 overall (0-1 SAC), while the Stars – who received votes in the latest NAIA national poll – improved to 6-2 (1-0 SAC).
 
OPSU led just once in the game, at the 11:38 mark of the first half, when Auston Chatman buried a three-ball to put the Aggies up 9-8. But from that point, the Stars out-scored the visiting Panhandle unit by a 25-8 margin to close the half and a 33-17 lead.
 
The Aggies were unable to shave the Stars' advantage in the second half. Panhandle remained down by double digits the rest of the way.
 
Panhandle's offense – coming in averaging better than 70 points a game – was hampered by a 28-percent shooting night as a team. OPSU made good on just 3-of-22 (14 percent) from beyond the arc. Conversely, OCU shot 43 percent from the field and 33 percent from long range.
 
Sophomore Quentin Fankhouser led the Aggies with six points.  Senior DK Sumo IV, Chatman and Eli Edwards each chipped in five points. Terrance Gibbons and Tanner Meraz had four points apiece.
 
Edwards and Daniel Holyfield shared team-high rebound honors, with seven caroms each. Gibbons and Maurice Waters pulled down five boards each.
 
The Aggies did win the battle of the boards, out-rebounding the Stars by a 44-40 margin. Panhandle struggled with ball control, committing 26 turnovers (18 unforced). OCU had 17 miscues.
 
The Aggies will next be in action at Southwestern Christian University on Saturday (Nov. 23) and a homecoming, of sorts, for OPSU Head Coach Mark Laird. Laird was an assistant at SWC prior to taking the Panhandle State head coach position this year.