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Eagles have high expectations in 2009-10

After tying for third place in the Sooner Athletic Conference and advancing to the NAIA national tournament last year, the Oklahoma Christian University men’s basketball team is looking for more in 2009-10.

Last season, the Eagles overcame a turbulent start that saw key contributors lost to season-ending injuries.

“We lost both Andre Vaughn and John Powell at the start of the season, yet we played well despite that fact,” head coach Dan Hays said. “I was very pleased with the way we finished considering our relatively young team.”

As long as the Eagles’ athletes can remain healthy, a strong season appears to be ahead of them.

“I believe we will be in the hunt for the SAC title,” Hays said. “With four starters back, I have high expectations.”

OC’s top returner is Jason Taylor, the reigning SAC Player of the Year.

As a junior in 2008-09, he was a first-team NAIA All-America and first-team all-conference selection in addition to earning CoSIDA Academic All-District and Academic All-SAC honors.

Taylor will again be an important staple in the Eagles’ offense after averaging an impressive 23.6 ppg (second in the nation) and 8.4 rpg last year.

Jeff Crocker, the SAC Freshman of the Year in 2007-08 and an All-SAC third-team pick last year, also returns for the Eagles after leading the conference in assists (5.5 apg) and scoring 11.9 ppg.

Along with Crocker at guard is David Jackson. Jackson recorded 80 three-pointers last year, shooting 42 percent from behind the arc and averaging 9.8 ppg.

OC’s wealth of experienced returners also includes forwards Chad Endres, Michael Hill, Jon Jonsson and Andre Vaughn.

The highly-touted Vaughn began the season as a starter, but tore his ACL in the second game and was sidelined for the remainder of the year.

Endres averaged 5.3 ppg in a sixth-man role while Hill and Jonsson contributed as part-time starters.

Each will be looked on for meaningful contributions this season.

Izea Lovejoy and Sam Stephens also saw a lot of time off the bench a year ago, adding more versatility and depth to this year’s team.

Athletic guard Devan White redshirted last year and will provide another threat in his first season on the court for the Eagles.

“Devan is going to catch a lot of eyes this year,” Hays said. “He is a powerful, athletic guard who will be useful this season.”

Senior Zack Anderson and freshman newcomers Christopher Manuel (Sugar Land, Texas), Eric Randall (Edmond, Okla.) and Brandon Troutman (Flower Mound, Texas) round out a deep and talented roster.

-OC-