CHICAGO – Xavier Smith of Oklahoma City University's men's basketball team was named one of 16 finalists for the Dark Horse Dunker competition.
Smith, a senior from Richardson, Texas, is listed as the seventh seed and will take on Matt Bonds of Saint Michael's (Vt.) in the first round. Fans can vote for Smith by visiting DarkHorseDunker.com starting at noon Feb. 14.
First-round voting concludes noon Feb. 21. Fans can vote once per day and can also watch all 16 highlight videos on DarkHorseDunker.com.
Smith scored the winning basket Saturday on an alley-oop dunk in OCU's 72-69 over Bacone in Muskogee, Okla. Smith has provided the Stars with 15.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.46 blocked shots a game while ranking second in the NAIA with 59 blocks and third in blocks per game.
The competition is put on by Intersport, producers of the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships. The 16-player field is stocked with under-the-radar players who possess the power, creativity and hops to compete against college basketball's stars in the College Slam Dunk Championship.
The "Dark Horse Dunker" contest is a digital media contest that will match up 16 of the top college dunkers in a bracket-style competition to determine the final participant in the Slam Dunk Championship.
Video highlight reels of each competitor on the website will help fans determine their choice. The schedule for each voting round will go as follows:

•Round One: Feb. 14 at 1 p.m. ET through Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. ET (16 Players)

•Quarterfinals: Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. ET through March 1 at 1 p.m. ET (8 Players)

•Semifinals: March 2 at 1 p.m. ET through March 9 at 1 p.m. ET (4 Players)

•Finals: March 10 at 1 p.m. ET through March 17 at 1 p.m. ET (2 Players)

•Winner Announcement: March 17 at 1 p.m. ET

The player that ultimately receives the most votes in the final round will be selected to compete in the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships, an event featuring some of the best college dunkers and 3-point shooters in the country, held annually in the Final Four host city. The 2017 State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships will air live on ESPN during Final Four weekend in Phoenix at 10 p.m. ET on March 30.
The 16 "Dark Horse Dunkers" participating in the contest were selected by a committee representing the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships. Previous State Farm "Dark Horse Dunker" winners include Yunio Barrueta (Barry University) in 2016, Davene Carter (Tarleton State) and Antjuan Ball (West Texas A&M) in 2015, Marcus Lewis (Eastern Kentucky) in 2014, Corey Law (High Point) in 2013, James Justice (Martin Methodist College) in 2012, and Jacob Tucker (Illinois College) in 2011. Lewis, Justice and Tucker all went on to win the College Slam Dunk Championship.