TULSA�€"Four players scored in double figures, and
Ken Tutt (Garland, Texas) went 4-for-4 from the
free throw line in the final 29 seconds as Oral Roberts University
overcame a halftime deficit for the first time all season in
gaining a 59-53 win over Chicago State, in a non-conference tilt
Thursday at Mabee Center. The victory extended
ORU�€™s winning streak to six games.
Trailing 32-28 at halftime, the Golden Eagles (12-7) limited
Chicago State (7-15) to 33.3 percent shooting (8-24) in the second
half, and went 7-for-7 from the line in the final 2:54 to secure
the win over their former Mid-Continent Conference rivals.
ORU
started strong, jumping out to a 13-7 lead behind seven points from
Shawn King (Bequia, St. Vincent). But Chicago
State�€™s David Holston scored nine points during
a 19-7 run which gave the Cougars a 26-20 lead with 8:11 left
before halftime.
Chicago
State maintained its slim lead throughout much of the second half.
The Golden Eagles closed to within one when Kelvin
Sango�€™s (Tulsa, Okla.) layup made it
35-34 with 16:12 to play, but a dunk by John Cantrell and layup by
Chidozie Chukwumah gave CSU a 39-34 advantage with 14:53
remaining.
ORU --
which was winless the five previous times it trailed at halftime --
tied the game at 39-39 on a three-pointer by Moses
Ehambe (Arlington, Texas) with 13:03 to go, and after the
lead changed hands twice more, the Golden Eagles finally took the
lead for good when another Ehambe trey put ORU up 44-43 with 9:44
left.
Ironically, ORU�€™s only win last season when
trailing at halftime came against Chicago State in the Mid-Con
Tournament championship game.
The
Golden Eagles shot 48.9 percent from the field, compared to 38.2
percent for Chicago State. ORU edged the Cougars in rebounding,
32-30.
Tutt
led ORU with 16 points, going 5-of-8 from the field, including
2-of-4 from three-point range. Caleb Green (Tulsa,
Okla.) added 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two
blocks. Green extended his double-figure scoring streak to 48
games
King
recorded his second straight double-double with 11 points and 11
rebounds, while adding six blocks and two assists. Ehambe chipped
in with 11 points off the bench.
Chicago
State�€™s Holston led all scorers with 18 points.
Cantrell added 14 points, and Chukwumah added 10 and seven
rebounds.
The
Golden Eagles return to Mid-Con action when they visit Centenary, 7
p.m., Saturday.
--ORU--
