OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla – On the road at the Paycom Center, home of the NBA's OKC Thunder, (20) Moundbuilders (2-0) men's basketball team defeated Central Christian College (0-1), 80-69, to win the Bridge Builder Classic for a third consecutive year.

Early in the first half SC lost the lead at the 11:31 mark, 8-9 and never got above water in the first half, trailing 37-43 at halftime.

The Builders found themselves playing from behind for most of the game. The Central Christian Tigers were on fire from the field behind the hot hand of Chris Whitten, who finished with 25 points and was selected as the Tiger's MVP of the game.

The second half began with a quick Cevin Clark jumper, 39-43, but the Tigers immediately answered with a Whitten three pointer, 39-46. The Builders would go on a three minute dry spell until Clark's layup, 41-50, with 17:22 left.

The Tigers built a nine-point lead with 15 minutes left, 45-54, and the Builders began to chip away at the lead with only three free throws made in a three minute spread, one from Andrew O'Brien and two from Mason Thiessen, 48-54.

With 13 minutes left, and the Builders' ball under their own basket, Trey Abasolo scored on the inbounds play to spark the Builder comeback, 50-54.

And with a Moundbuilder steal on the next possession, DeMaria hit a huge momentum three pointer and assist from O'Brien, with 12:49 left in the game, 53-54.

The Tigers would make one free thrown on the next possession after a Zach Hildago foul, 53-55, 12:26 remaining.

But O'Brien would find the hot hand, DeMaria on the next possession for a huge three pointer, as the Builders would take back the lead at the 12:12 mark.

The Builders defense would hold the Tigers scoreless for the next five minutes and build a 10-point lead with 11 of DeMaria's 17 points coming inside that game changing stretch.

Stand out senor guard, Clark still led the Builders with 24 points and only connected on 2 three pointers, doing much of his damage off the dribble inside the paint against the Tigers.

Limiting Central Christian on the boards was instrumental in the second half and O'Brien amassed a game high 16 rebounds, to go with nine assists, and six points.

The two headed monster for the Builders, inside the paint, of Zach Hildago and Thiessen, made it difficult for the Tigers to extend their defense out on Southwestern's guards. Hildago finished with seven points and seven rebounds, while Thiessen had 12 points, and three rebounds.

The Southwestern bench played a pivotal role in the game, outscoring the Tiger's bench 40 to 11.

The Builders will be back in action on the road in Lawrence, KS at the Ernie Stevens Jr. Classic on the campus of Haskell Indian Nations University. Southwestern will play Haskell, Thursday, Nov. 9, at 7:30pm, Park University, Friday, Nov. 10 at 5:30pm, and Baptist Bible College, Sunday, Nov. 12, at 2:30pm.