OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 27, 2014) – Once the turkey is finished and the football games on television are over, Thanksgiving weekend for OC fans is only halfway done.
On Friday and Saturday, the Eagles' Nest will be the site of the Oklahoma Christian Classic, a basketball event that will feature four small-college men's squads from the Oklahoma City metropolitan area – OC, Central Oklahoma, Southern Nazarene and Southwestern Christian.
The classic will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday with a game between longtime NCAA Division II power Central Oklahoma (4-2) and a rising NAIA program, Southwestern Christian, one of the newest members of the Sooner Athletic Conference, OC's former home. Southwestern Christian (3-3) lost 113-74 at UCO last Monday in an earlier game between the Eagles and Bronchos, who lead the all-time series 3-0.
At 7:30 p.m., one of the state's best small-college rivalries will see its annual renewal as OC (2-1) will face Southern Nazarene (4-0) in a matchup of new Division II programs. SNU already has a pair of quality road wins, having won at Southern Arkansas and Arkansas-Monticello in Great American Conference play, while OC has home wins over Dallas Christian (Texas) and Southwestern (Kan.).
OC and SNU both were members of the SAC for decades before they moved into Division II and different leagues – OC joining the Heartland Conference and SNU becoming a member of the GAC. They have been each other's most frequent opponent during the past 55 years, with the Eagles leading the all-time series 62-41. OC and the Crimson Storm split a pair of games last season. Friday's meeting will be the only game between the teams this season.
Saturday will feature a tripleheader that will start at 1 p.m., with OC's women's team hosting Arkansas Tech, a squad coached by former OC baseball player Dave Wilburs. At 3 p.m., OC's men will play Southwestern Christian – a team against which the Eagles have a 4-0 all-time record.
Central Oklahoma will face Southern Nazarene at 5 p.m. in the classic's final game. SNU holds a 20-12 series lead over the Bronchos.
