Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 18, 2014) – Oklahoma Christian men's basketball coach Dan Hays saw this one coming.

After the Eagles lost a heartbreaker on a last-second shot against No. 25 St. Edward's (Texas) two days earlier – on a shot that might or might not have beaten the buzzer – Hays knew it would be tough for his young squad to bounce back against Texas-Permian Basin, one of the Heartland Conference's elite teams.

Sure enough, the Eagles started quickly but fizzled as UTPB pulled away for a 74-54 win on Thursday night in the Eagles' Nest.

"It's really tough with such a young team," Hays said. "We played so well Tuesday night and to lose that game in the last second, under circumstances I've never had to deal with before in my career … it was just tough. We've worked hard and tried, but to be honest, I had a feeling this was going to happen."

With Zach Norris still sidelined by a foot injury and Jordan Box out as well, OC (2-6, 0-2 Heartland) was left without its top two point guards. Hays moved his starting shooting guard, Elijah Strickland, to the point, with Jordan Rutherford – usually a starting small forward – at shooting guard. Freshman Cameron Peters received his first career start.

Despite the lineup upheaval, the Eagles started quickly. Senior forward Eric Randall buried two 3-pointers during the first 3:34, helping stake OC to a 10-6 lead. But the Falcons' hot 3-point shooting turned the tide.

During a 94-second stretch, Lamar Falley hit three 3-pointers and Malcolm Hill-Bey added another. UTPB (6-3, 1-0) capped an 18-3 run with a dunk by Codye Hatcher that put the Falcons up 26-15 at the 9:42 mark of the first half.

A three-point play by John Moon and a 3-pointer by Strickland pulled OC within 26-21. But Strickland's basket at the 8:42 mark was OC's last field goal of the half. The Falcons closed the half on an 11-1 run to extend their lead to 37-22.

The Eagles' field-goal drought eventually extended past the 10-minute mark before Moon scored on a dunk with 18:33 left. But UTPB steadily built its lead to as many as 28 points and the Eagles never made a serious run.

Falley finished 5-of-7 from 3-point range and scored 17 points. Hatcher had 20 points and 13 rebounds and Chris Griffin – a senior transfer from Auburn – added 12 points for the Falcons.

Moon scored 15 and Randall had 12 to lead the Eagles. Senior guard Casey Covalt didn't score but grabbed a career-high eight rebounds on a night that his team was out-boarded 44-30.

"To be honest, we're putting all of our pieces together for next year, when we count," Hays said. "But that doesn't mean we're going to concede anything this year. We've just got to keep chopping wood and keep working. These are wonderful kids. I can't tell you how much I enjoy them."

OC will be off until Jan. 1, when the Eagles will play at Heartland rival St. Mary's (Texas).