TULSA�€"Five different players scored in double figures
as
Oral
Roberts
University rolled to a 75-60 win over
Valparaiso in Mid-Continent Conference play, Saturday afternoon
at
Mabee
Center.
ORU (9-7, 2-0) matched a season-high with its third
straight win, and kept the Crusaders (6-9, 1-1) winless in 11 tries
at
Mabee
Center, and 0-12 against the Golden Eagles in games played in the
City of
Tulsa. The 15-point margin was the largest for ORU in the
series.
The Golden Eagles trailed just twice �€" at
2-0 and 9-7. Down by two, ORU went on a 17-4 run, taking a 24-13
lead on a three-pointer by Ken Tutt (
Garland,
Texas) with
9:40 left in the first half.
ORU extended the lead to 12 points when Shawn
King (Bequia,
St. Vincent) connected for an alley-oop dunk to give the Golden
Eagles a 29-17 advantage with
6:07 left.
But Valpo chipped away at the lead in the final three
minutes. Jarryd Loyd hit a runner at the buzzer and Valpo trailed
36-31 at halftime.
The Golden Eagles took control of the game early in the
second half. Caleb Green (
Tulsa,
Okla.) converted a three-point play for a 39-31 lead just 12
seconds into the half. A pair of free throws by King, and a layup
by Adam Liberty (
Oklahoma City,
Okla.) put the Golden Eagles up 43-31 with
18:43 left.
Valpo never got any closer than 13 points the rest of
the way. The Golden Eagles pushed the lead to as many as 19 points
(53-34) on a pair of free throws by Green with
13:22 remaining.
Liberty led ORU�€™s balanced attack with 16
points, making a season-high four three-pointers, and grabbing four
rebounds in 33 minutes. Green picked up his eighth double-double of
the season and school record-tying 54th of his career
(Mark Acres) with 14 points and 12 rebounds while adding five
assists.
King enjoyed his third straight strong game with 13
points, six rebounds and two blocks. Tutt chipped in with 11
points, and Marchello Vealy (
Oklahoma City,
Okla.) added 10 points off the bench.
Valpo was led by Calum MacLeod�€™s 17
points.
The Golden Eagles shot 44.8 percent (26-58) from the
field, compared to 44.4 percent (20-45) for Valpo. ORU owned a
32-29 rebounding advantage, and turned it over a season-low six
times, compared with 15 for the Crusaders.
The Golden Eagles next open a two-game conference road
trip when they visit
Southern Utah,
8 p.m., Thursday.
--ORU--
Oral Roberts
vs.
Valparaiso
January 6, 2007
ORU 75,
Valparaiso 60
Post-Game Notes
- ORU is 11-0 all-time vs.
Valparaiso at the
Mabee
Center and 12-0 vs. the Crusaders in
Tulsa
- The
15-point margin of victory is the largest for ORU in its 13 wins
against
Valparaiso
- The Golden Eagles have won 13 straight home games
against Mid-Con opponents
- ORU committed a season-low six turnovers
- Senior forward Caleb Green needs 361
points to pass Michael Watson as the Mid-Con�€™s
all-time leading scorer
- Adam Liberty made a season-high four
3-pointers
- Green tied Mark Acres�€™ school
record with his 54th career double-double, his
8th this season
- Green extended his double-figure scoring streak to 45
consecutive games
- ORU improved to 6-1 at home this season
